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2 dead after tree branch falls on crowd at fireworks show - WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, Sports | ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (AP) - Two people died and several others were injured after a branch measuring in parts more than 8-feet (2.5 meters) around fell on spectators during a fireworks display in western Illinois, authorities said.
Rock Island County Sheriff Gerald Bustos said Wednesday that the branch fell from an oak tree that's believed to be about 100 years old. It fell about 25 feet (8 meters) during Tuesday night's "Red, White and Boom" event outside the courthouse in Rock Island.
Dozens were sitting near the tree watching the fireworks when the branch fell, crushing some of the spectators. Some of those who weren't hurt tried to lift the branch to free the people trapped beneath.
Bustos said Daniel Mendoza Sr., 61, of Rock Island was pronounced dead at the scene. Lawrence R. Anderson, 72, of Moline died at a hospital. Authorities have not provided the causes of death, but Bustos said autopsies were planned for later Wednesday.
Six other people were taken to a local hospital, including a 21-year-old pregnant woman from East Moline who was near term. Bustos said the woman gave birth, and she and her baby are reported to be in good health.
The others were treated Tuesday night and released from the hospital. Two people from Maysville, Iowa, and their 2-year-old son suffered minor injuries, including scratches to the face. A 3-year-old boy from Bettendorf, Iowa was treated for a suspected concussion, while a Moline woman also had a suspected concussion and scratches.
Melanie Brown Ledbetter told KWQC-TV she was with sitting about 50-feet (15 meters) from the tree with family and friends, watching the fireworks.
"I was turned talking to my friend and heard the loud crackle of the tree breaking and saw it fall," she said.
She said her husband was among those who tried to help people who were hurt or trapped.
"People were screaming and crying," Ledbetter said. "A lot of people rushed over to help and a lot of people immediately packed up and fled the scene."
Bustos said his office is investigating, and he will provide an update Thursday afternoon.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
Alabama GOP Senate Primary Tests Reach Of McConnell, Trump | In the Alabama Republican Senate race, every candidate wants to be just like Donald Trump.
But in Tuesday's primary, the leading candidate sounds and acts more like the president, while it's the incumbent, an appointed senator just fighting to make it into a likely runoff, who has Trump's actual blessing — but also the curse of being Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's favorite candidate.
That's the conundrum of the Republican contest, largely seen as a three-way race between front-runner Roy Moore, a controversial former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice; Sen. Luther Strange, appointed back in February to fill the seat of now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions; and Rep. Mo Brooks, who's seized on an anti-McConnell platform as the president's attacks against the Senate's top Republican have intensified recently.
Moore has consistently polled atop the field, and looks likely to claim a spot in a probable September runoff. His ads sound downright Trumpian, promising to "drain the swamp" and taking a swipe at D.C. elites.
Moore is well-known throughout the state — and the country — too. He first gained national notoriety when he refused to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments from a state judicial building despite a federal court order; Moore himself was then removed from his position as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 2003. He won election to the same post again in 2012, but was then suspended after he ordered judges to enforce the state's ban on same-sex marriage despite the Supreme Court's 2015 decision in favor of gay marriage nationwide under the federal Constitution. He resigned earlier this year to challenge Strange.
To state observers, it's not surprising that Moore has been able to build a strong following and even expand beyond what might be his typical conservative base in the state.
"Alabama voters supported Trump because he spoke his mind and said all the things they had been thinking about government," said Brent Buchanan, a GOP strategist and pollster in the state. "Out of all the candidates, Roy Moore has some of those similar characteristics. You may not agree with all of his policy or personal preferences, but you know that Roy Moore is going to do what Roy Moore believes."
That's why it was so, well, strange last week when Trump tweeted out his support for Strange, saying the incumbent has his "complete and total endorsement!"
The senator has benefited from millions of dollars in ads from the McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund super PAC. The very next day after endorsing Strange, Trump started going on Twitter tirades against the GOP Senate leader for failing to pass a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Strange has tried to prove his loyalty to the president ever since he was appointed under less than auspicious circumstances. As Alabama's attorney general, Strange was investigating then-Gov. Robert Bentley for misuse of his office amid a sex scandal when Bentley chose Strange to replace Sessions. Facing impeachment, Bentley eventually resigned, and the new governor, Kay Ivey, moved up the date for the special election to replace Sessions long-term.
Polling done in the wake of Trump's surprise endorsement showed that the president's blessing had done little — yet — to move the needle toward Strange. One by cygnal, Buchanan's firm, conducted partly after the endorsement, showed Moore still with a lead and high favorables, Strange remained static and it was Brooks who took a hit.
Buchanan said the Trump endorsement could help Strange turn out some who were less likely to vote on Tuesday, which could be key in what's already expected to be a very low-turnout affair.
And the pro-Trump America First Action super PAC also announced late Friday it would be spending up to $200,000 on digital ads targeting Trump voters to encourage them to come out for Strange.
However, although he's slipping in polling, Brooks is hoping to turn McConnell's fervent support for Strange into a last-ditch way to get into the likely runoff against Moore. He's hitched a "Ditch Mitch" banner to his campaign bus in the final days, and in his closing ad he echoes Trump's frustration with McConnell's inability to push through an Obamacare repeal.
"McConnell and Strange are weak, but together we can be strong," Brooks says. "Mr. President, isn't it time we tell McConnell and Strange, 'You're fired?'"
Ultimately, the Huntsville-area congressman hasn't had the resources the other two candidates have had, and he hasn't been elected statewide before like Moore and Strange. And, perhaps most damaging, he was certainly no fan of Trump during the GOP presidential primaries last year, during which he supported Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. McConnell's super PAC has pointed that out in ads, saying Brooks sided with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
If Strange does fall short of the runoff, University of Alabama political science professor emeritus William Stewart, a longtime political observer in the state, said that's a big problem for McConnell. And, if Strange does make it to the likely September runoff, expect that to be a big point Moore can use against Strange, too.
"The McConnell support for Strange will not be helpful because McConnell, as the president says, hasn't been successful at pushing through the president's agenda, " Stewart said. "If Strange doesn't make the runoff, that's a definite blow to McConnell," more so than Trump.
Polling shows Moore is still the favorite against Strange in a runoff, and that's where the McConnell ties could be the most deadly — and place the president in a more precarious spot given his surprising endorsement. Stewart said it would be interesting to watch how much Trump puts his muscle behind Strange later, and something like traveling to Alabama — one of Trump's best states in 2016 — for a rally on the senator's behalf would certainly give Strange a boost.
No matter who wins the GOP nomination though, they'll be the heavy favorite in the December general election, even if it's the more controversial Moore. Democrats are expected to nominate Doug Jones, a former U.S. attorney, though he could face a runoff against the aptly-named Robert Kennedy Jr., a Naval veteran who is not related to the famous Democratic political family.
If Moore is the GOP nominee, it will be interesting to watch whether the Democrats can make it even a mildly competitive contest — something Stewart, the former University of Alabama professor, said is doubtful, and is emblematic of the problems the party faces overall in the South.
"Right now the Democratic Party is very impotent here," Stewart said. "I think whomever the Republicans choose as their nominee will be the winner." |
Brian Ganz to play Chopin’s early works at UUCA | Brian Ganz, internationally renowned classical pianist, will present a solo concert of Chopin’s youthful creations on Sunday, January 15, 2017, at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA), 333 Dubois Road. The program, “Chopin: A Young Genius,” will feature the composer’s 12 Etudes, Op. 10–early works that set the standard for demanding technical studies, while being works of great beauty and originality. Also included in the program are three nocturnes, several youthful polonaises and mazurkas, and an elegant set of variations Chopin composed on the German air “Der Schweizerbub.” The ticketed event, $20 at the door, will include a reception following the performance. For information, visit www.tinyurl.com/UUCA-concerts or call 410-266-8044 Monday–Thursday.
Widely regarded as one of the leading pianists of his generation, Brian Ganz is a laureate of the Marguerite Long Jacques Thibaud and the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Piano Competitions. His passion for Chopin has shaped his life’s work. The Washington Post noted: “There isn’t much about Chopin that Brian Ganz doesn’t know. His delight and wonder in this music seem to grow, apparently without bounds, as time goes on.” In 2011 Ganz began a multi-year project in partnership with the National Philharmonic in which he will perform the complete works of Chopin at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland. The seventh recital in that series takes place in February 2017. Ganz’s concert at UUCA in Annapolis on January 15 will preview that event.
Throughout his career, Ganz has made it his mission to join vivid music-making with warmth and intimacy to produce a new kind of listening experience in which great works come to life with authentic emotional power. Beyond performance, he engages the audience in discovering what lies behind the music. He brings that approach as artistic director of the monthly concert series at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, now beginning its fourth year.
The January 15, 3 p.m., performance sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis is an exception to the normal Friday night schedule, although series tickets will be honored. The Fourth Friday series schedule will resume on February 24, with jazz vocalist Sara Jones. For more information on UUCA concerts, visit www.tinyurl.com/UUCA-concerts or call 410-266-8044 Monday–Thursday.
Category: Events, LIFE IN THE AREA, Local News, NEWS, Post To FB |
Fire officials: Asheville school bus fire determined intentional - FOX Carolina 21 | Suspect wanted for intentionally setting fire to an Asheville City school bus.
The investigators with the Asheville Buncombe Arson Task Force reported there were four buses total tampered with at Vance elementary school.
Investigators said the last bus caught fire early Sunday morning then proceeded to catch fire to the awnings of the school.The next day, there was much smoke inside which called for ventilation on the first floor for class today.
After further investigation, the Asheville Fire Department said that the fire was determined to be intentionally set.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Asheville-Buncobme Arson Task force at 232-4548 or Crime Stoppers at 255-5050.
MORE NEWS: 9-year-old boy shoots sister in fight over video game controller
Copyright 2018 FOX Carolina (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. |
Bloodied sheets found at home of man 'who murdered wife' | Investigators found red-stained sheets and an empty box of cold medicine at the North Carolina home where a man says he killed his wife in a medicated stupor.
Matthew James Phelps, 29, called 911 in the early hours of September 1, saying that he took cough medicine, had a dream and woke up to find his wife Lauren, also 29, dead.
He told dispatchers that he believe the cough medicine made him kill his wife.
Matthew Phelps, 29 (left), is awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges for the September 1 murder of his wife Lauren, right, also 29
'I think I killed my... There's blood all over me, and there's a bloody knife on the bed. I think I did it,' the aspiring preacher said in audio from the 911 call.
Phelps called police in the early hours of September 1, saying he took Coricidin cough medicine and woke up to find his wife stabbed to death
'I took more medicine that I should have. I took Coricidin Cough and Cold because I know it can make you feel good and sometimes I can’t sleep at night,' he added.
He starts to sob as he adds: 'I can’t believe I did this. Oh God. She didn’t deserve this. Why?'
When police arrived on the scene, Lauren was still alive but mortally wounded. She was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.
Her husband was taken into custody and is no facing first-degree murder charges in her death.
On Wednesday, the News & Observer published details about what investigators found in the home after carrying out a search warrant.
Phelps said he believe the cough medicine made him kill his wife in his sleep. Above, the couple's house
Phelps pictured above in court last month. He is being held without bail on first-degree murder charges
They took as evidence a 'white bedspread, a white sheet, and gray white comforter and several pillowcases that were all marred with an unknown red substance' - as well as an empty box of Coricidin Cold & Cough medicine, the same brand that Phelps said he took before the murder.
They also took four computers, receipts, a mortgage statement, a knife set, credit cars, and Lauren's iPhone from the home.
Phelps does not have a criminal record. He is currently being held at Wake County Jail without bail.
He was working for a landscaping company while studying missions and evangelism at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, Kentucky.
Lauren and Matthew had been married for less than a year before her death |
Senators Fortunate to Salvage Home Split | (Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports)
It’s amazing what a win can do for a team’s confidence.
Down 3-1 to the Boston Bruins heading into the third period of Game 2, things looked bleak for the Ottawa Senators, who were suddenly lacking in confidence. Staring an 0-2 series deficit in the face, Dion Phaneuf led a furious Sens comeback with a three-point effort to even up the best-of-seven and breathe some life back into the team as the series shifted to Boston.
But make no mistake, without Phaneuf’s heroics the Sens were 20 minutes away from realizing the same fate as they did in Game 1 – taking the loss as a result of a comedy of mental errors. “We realized that the first game we kind of gave away, and again we were about to give this one away as well,” Senators captain Erik Karlsson told the assembled media post-game.
The #Sens speak to media following today’s 4-3 OT win over the Boston Bruins. pic.twitter.com/WzFYpZFoE8 — Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 15, 2017
Jekyll and Hyde
The captain was absolutely right in his assessment of his team’s play through the first two games, as they played well enough to win both but nearly came away empty handed as many times. It was an ironic twist for the Sens, who have prided themselves on their defensive zone play throughout the regular season yet failed at the worst possible time by turnovers and sloppiness.
Through the opening two games of the series, the Senators have turned the puck over a whopping 36 times to just 17 for Boston, which played no small part in the Bruins’ Game 1 victory. Each of Boston’s two goals was the result of poor puck management by the Senators, who on both occasions tried and failed to clear the puck numerous times before Boston took advantage of some fatigued defenders.
A similar destiny almost felled the Senators in Game 2, with Craig Anderson’s gaffe zapping all the momentum gained from Clarke MacArthur’s momentous game-tying goal only 1:42 earlier. Fortunately, the Senators played relatively clean for the remainder of the game and were able to convert that into a three-goal comeback.
Craig Anderson did a whoopsie pic.twitter.com/G8NJUcnLzZ — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 15, 2017
That is perhaps the most frustrating takeaway from the first two games – that a few collective minutes of mindless play could be the difference between going to Boston tied 1-1 and being up 2-0. Through the first two games, the Sens have outshot the Bruins 56-54 (but trail 96-95 in 5-on-5 shot attempts), surrendered only one power play goal and hold an 86-80 edge in hits.
More importantly, they’ve held Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron to a combined two goals and five points (one of those goals coming on the power play). Given the success that line has enjoyed this season and the threat it poses, the Sens should be incredibly pleased they have thus far limited the damage.
Outside Looking In
For all the good the Sens have done – both perceived and actual – there’s also a lot of work that remains to be done. While they’ve outshot the Bruins, and are nearly equal in shot attempts, many of those shots have come outside the home plate area (widely considered to be the danger zone), which isn’t good enough when facing a goalie of Rask’s calibre.
In Game 2, Ottawa was fortunate enough to convert on two of their shots from outside the home plate area. Chris Wideman’s shot from the blue line didn’t look too menacing but benefited from a bottleneck in front of Rask, while Phaneuf’s game-winning one-timer from the point was well positioned and also the benefactor of a bit of a scramble in front of the net.
Overall, Rask has faced just nine shots from the high-danger area at even strength, stopping all of them, while allowing two goals on 10 shots from the medium-danger area. To Ottawa’s credit, Boston hasn’t fared much better, with only seven high-danger shots on Anderson, of which he has stopped six, and two goals on 13 shots from medium-danger range.
Neither team has appeared willing to give an inch in the offensive zone – and it’s not in the Senators’ DNA to start taking risks, most definitely not in the playoffs – but something’s gotta give. The Sens have done a great job containing Boston’s big threats for the most part, but that likely can’t continue to the same effect and they can’t rely on sneaky perimeter shots to be the difference in the series.
If they have any hope of pulling ahead for good, they’ll have to pick their spots and try to generate some action in the middle of the ice. Obviously, that’s every team’s objective and it’s easier said than done, but the Sens have weapons at their disposal they could use as decoys (a la Game 2) to free up some space for their teammates.
Karlsson is the best defenseman on the planet. pic.twitter.com/6jOvTxL7cs — Sean Tierney (@ChartingHockey) April 15, 2017
The Injury Bug
On the injury front, both teams have faced some adversity but the Bruins’ situation has been worse. Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo have yet to play in the series, while Colin Miller left early in Game 1 after taking a hit from Mark Borowiecki and didn’t play in Game 2, during which Adam McQuaid also left early.
Borowiecki also couldn’t escape injury – some calling it karma – as he crashed hard into the boards in the second game of the series and needed help hobbling to the dressing room. Whether he plays in Game 3 is still up in the air, but the injury is still a blow to the Sens who at long last looked healthy on the blue line with Marc Methot finally returning from his gruesome injury.
Fortunately for the Sens, they have a number of players they can turn to (Fredrik Claesson, Ben Harpur and Jyrki Jokipakka) who have at least some experience playing with the team this year. Borowiecki’s contributions to the game are debatable, but one fact that is undeniable is the physical presence he brings to every game, which would be tough to replace.
Advanced stats courtesy of hockeystats.ca and corsica.hockey |
Quick challenge for Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban | JACKSON, Miss. — The nation's most restrictive abortion law is headed for a showdown before a federal judge only hours after it was signed by Mississippi's governor.
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves late Monday scheduled arguments Tuesday morning over whether he should immediately block the law after a request by the state's only abortion clinic and a physician who works there.
Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed House Bill 1510 on Monday, immediately banning most abortions after 15 weeks of gestation. How quickly will the effects of the law be felt in Mississippi? Dr. Sacheen Carr-Ellis of the Jackson Women's Health Organization stated in court papers that a woman 15 weeks or more pregnant is scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon abortion.
The law and responding challenge set up a confrontation sought by abortion opponents, who are hoping federal courts will ultimately prohibit abortions before a fetus is viable. Current federal law does not.
Some legal experts have said a change in the law is unlikely unless the makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court changes in a way that favors abortion opponents.
"We are saving more of the unborn than any state in America, and what better thing can we do?" Bryant said in a video his office posted on social media.
The law's only exceptions are if a fetus has health problems making it "incompatible with life" outside of the womb at full term, or if a pregnant woman's life or a "major bodily function" is threatened by pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape and incest aren't exempted.
Mississippi previously tied with North Carolina for the nation's strictest abortion limits at 20 weeks. Both states count pregnancy as beginning on the first day of a woman's previous menstrual period. That means the restrictions kick in about two weeks before those of states whose 20-week bans begin at conception.
"We'll probably be sued in about half an hour," Bryant said to laughter from supporters as he signed the bill. "That'll be fine with me. It'll be worth fighting over."
Bryant's prediction was accurate. The state's only abortion clinic and one of the physicians who practices there sued in federal court within an hour, arguing the law violates other federal court rulings saying a state can't restrict abortion before a child can survive on its own outside the womb.
The Jackson Women's Health Organization, in a lawsuit handled by the Center of Reproductive Rights, argued the measure is unconstitutional and should immediately be struck down.
"Under decades of United States Supreme Court precedent, the state of Mississippi cannot ban abortion prior to viability, regardless of what exceptions are provided to the ban," the suit states.
The suit says the clinic performed 78 abortions in 2017 when the fetus was identified as being 15 weeks or older. That's out of about 2,500 abortions performed statewide, mostly at the clinic.
Carr-Ellis, in a sworn statement, says she'll have to stop providing abortions to women past the 15 week ban, or else lose her Mississippi medical license, as House Bill 1510 requires. She says women shouldn't be forced to carry their pregnancies to term against their wills or leave the state to obtain abortions.
"A woman who is pregnant should have the ability to make the decision that is best for her about the course of her pregnancy, based on her own values and goals for her life," Carr-Ellis said in the statement.
Republican legislative leaders Lt. Gov Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn both attended Bryant's private signing ceremony
"The winners (today) are those babies that are in the womb, first and foremost," Gunn said. "Those are the ones we're trying to protect."
When asked if the state is prepared to bear the cost of a lawsuit, Gunn said, "Absolutely."
"I don't know if you can put any value on human life," Gunn said. "We are all about fighting to protect the unborn. Whatever challenges we have to take on to do that, is something we're willing to do."
Opponents, though, predicted the attempt to allow states to restrict abortion before viability would fail.
"We certainly think this bill is unconstitutional," said Katherine Klein, equality advocacy coordinator for the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi. "The 15-week marker has no bearing in science. It's just completely unfounded and a court has never upheld anything under the 20-week viability marker."
The bill was drafted with the assistance of conservative groups including the Mississippi Center for Public Policy and the Alliance Defending Freedom.
"We believe this law should be a model for the rest of the country," Jameson Taylor, acting president of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, said in a statement.
Both Republican-controlled chambers passed the bill overwhelmingly in early March, by a vote of 35-14 in the Senate and 76-34 in the House.
The U.S. Senate failed to pass a 20-week abortion ban bill in January. With 60 "yes" votes required to advance, the bill failed on a 51-46 vote. |
Apple Doesn't Deliberately Slow Down Older Devices According to Benchmark Analysis | Our benchmarking data shows that, rather than intentionally degrading the performance of older models, Apple actually does a good job of supporting its older devices with regular updates that maintain a consistent level of performance across iOS versions.
Benchmarking company Futuremark recently set out to debunk long-running speculation that Apple intentionally slows down older iPhones when it releases new software updates as a way to encourage its customers to buy new devices.Starting in 2016, Futuremark collected over 100,000 benchmark results for seven different iPhone models across three versions of iOS, using that data to create performance comparison charts to determine whether there have been performance drops in iOS 9, iOS 10, and iOS 11.The first device tested was the iPhone 5s, as it's the oldest device capable of running iOS 11. iPhone 5s, released in 2013, was the first iPhone to get a 64-bit A7 chip, and iOS 11 is limited to 64-bit devices. Futuremark used the 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme Graphics test and calculated all benchmark scores from the iPhone 5s across a given month to make its comparison.The higher the bar, the better the performance, and based on the testing, GPU performance on the iPhone 5s has remained constant from iOS 9 to iOS 11 with just minor variations that Futuremark says "fall well within normal levels."iPhone 5s CPU performance over time was measured using the 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme Physics test, and again, results were largely consistent.Charts for other devices, including the iPhone 6, 6s, and 7, show some mild dips and increases when it comes to GPU performance. In the iPhone 6 and 7, GPU performance is up compared to previous-generation versions of iOS.CPU performance across those three devices has dropped slightly, something Futuremark attributes to "minor iOS updates or other factors." "A user would be unlikely to notice this small difference in everyday use," says the site. Based on its benchmarking comparisons, Futuremark claims "there are no signs of a conspiracy."Raw CPU and GPU power across devices does not offer a complete picture of performance on an older device that's updated to a new operating system, however, nor are benchmarks an accurate measure of real world performance. Apple may not be deliberately slowing down older devices with its software updates, as some have speculated , but there are other factors to take into account.New features that eat up more system resources can make a device feel slower, as can more system intensive design elements and other tweaks and changes designed for newer devices that are more powerful.Apple's operating system updates also introduce more advanced APIs and technology for its newest devices, leading to built-in and third-party apps that are aimed at more powerful devices and may not be optimized on older devices, resulting in an older device feeling more sluggish than a newer device following an iOS update.Sometimes, there are also early bugs in the software that need to be worked out through additional updates. For example, we've seen complaints of app slowdowns and performance drops from users who have installed iOS 11, issues that may be resolved as Apple tweaks and updates the iOS 11 operating system. |
MFA: No Information For Injured Bulgarian Citizens as a Result of the Fires in Greece | At 15.00 no information has been received about injured Bulgarian citizens as a result of fires raging in Greece, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, quoted by bTV.
The wildfire that broke out near the town of Kalamos, some 45 km northeast of Athens, on Sunday afternoon has moved southwards toward the town of Varnavas on Monday morning, Greek Reporter writes.
Helicopters and planes have joined firefighters in an effort to control the flames and prevent the destruction of more houses, most of them holiday-homes, which are scattered in the woodland.
Firefighters say that the blaze is difficult to tackle because it moves into an area which is part woodland, part residential.
The head of the community of Varnavas, Haralambia Asimakopoulou, told Skai early on Monday that she had asked the fire service to dispatch more water-dropping aircraft to the area.
“We are scared that whatever we managed to save last night will just be burned today,” she said, stressing the size of the blaze.
A total of 150 firefighters were working in the area early on Monday, manning 68 fire engines, with the help of volunteers.
Hundreds of residents in Kalamos had fled their homes and spent the night near the beach.
More than a dozen houses were damaged by the fire, but there are no reports of injuries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bulgaria recommends Bulgarian citizens traveling or staying in Greece to be informed in advance of the current situation, and to avoid the affected areas, and to strictly observe the instructions of the local authorities.
Bulgarian citizens wishing to receive up-to-date information or to report their relatives may do it on the Emergency Call Desk of the Bulgarian Embassy in Athens: 00 30 6937 096 220 |
BRIEF-Belle Mare Holding reports FY revenue of 38.0 mln rupees | Romania's president asks ruling coalition to solve internal crisis
BUCHAREST, June 15 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday called on politicians to solve the country's political crisis and will only appoint a new prime minister if the incumbent resigns or loses a non-confidence vote in parliament, his spokeswoman said on Thursday. |
Man injured as armed police search for alleged Brighouse attacker | Have your say
A man has been reportedly injured in Brighouse following an alleged attack involving a weapon and led to armed police being called to an address in Wyke.
Officers were called to St John Street, off Gooder Lane, in Rastrick at about 2pm on Sunday following an alleged armed attack in which one person was wounded.
Enquiries by police officers saw armed police attend an address in Angus Avenue, Wyke later that day.
The road was cordoned off as a combination of marked and unmarked police cars attended.
The force helicopter was called out as police descended on St John Street.
Enquiries are still ongoing into the incident. |
Biocon gets EU GMP certification for Bengaluru drug product facility | Biotechnology major Biocon today said it has received EU GMP certification for its sterile drug product manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. The facility was inspected by the European agencies in March 2018, Biocon said in a filing to BSE.
"This facility is used for the manufacture of Biocon's portfolio of biosimilars," a company spokesperson said.
Earlier in May, in a regulatory filing, Biocon had said it had received a preliminary report from the European Regulator post inspection of its sterile drug product facility in Bengaluru in March 2018.
"The report lists six major observations with no observation classified as critical. We will submit a corrective and preventive action plan to the European inspection agency within the stipulated time period," a company spokesperson had said.
Shares of Biocon Ltd today closed at Rs 628.15 on BSE, down 0.02 percent from previous close. |
Massive flooding turns a New York park into small lake | STILLWATER, N.Y. (AP) A park in upstate New York has been flooded by 1 million gallons of water and turned into a lake.
The Post-Star reports (http://bit.ly/2olxyZt ) that part of the Saratoga National Historical Park has been flooded with water from an unknown source since last year. The accidental lake at the parking area is estimated to be 3 feet deep and stretching more than 200 yards.
Officials believe a water main break or a drainage problem caused the flood.
The extensive flooding has spread into a cemetery next to the park, too.
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Saratoga National Park Superintendent Amy Bracewell says the National Parks Service will examine all options. Park officials say they will drain the lake and dig a test pit to determine the cause of flooding.
Tests are scheduled for Monday.
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Information from: The Post-Star, http://www.poststar.com |
Medicare launches revamp for heart attacks, hip fractures | 5:48 Dave Barry's 2016 Holiday Gift Guide Pause
1:20 The United States of Powerball
1:28 The day Cassius Clay and The Beatles shared the ring
57:11 Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen talk politics, Florida and a presidential bid at the Miracle Theatre
5:16 Finding Answers in a Ship Full of Migrants’ Bodies
1:38 Dave Barry goes searching for protesters on the campaign trail
2:27 Dave Barry discovers something other than fish in the ocean off Rio
0:47 Dolphins CB Lippet talks about hit that sidelined him
1:17 Adam Gase discusses Dolphins loss against the Patriots |
Insomnia Cookies Satisfies Late-Night Sweet Cravings | Who hasn’t at one time or another experienced late-night cravings for gooey chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven? Insomnia Cookies (1804 E. North Ave.) specializes in late-night delivery of freshly baked cookies. The bakery chain opened its first Milwaukee location in May 2016 and has since been satisfying the midnight snack attacks of college students and anyone who just loves cookies.
Insomnia Cookies was founded in a college dorm room in 2003 at the University of Pennsylvania by then student Seth Berkowitz. The business concept was born out of Berkowitz’s dislike of heavy meals late at night, a love of food delivery and the realization that by the time you get hungry at night, nothing is open.
“We decided to open in Milwaukee because the area seemed to have a strong sense of community, and we wanted to be able to deliver and serve the UW-Milwaukee students as well,” noted Joshua Johnson, marketing manager for Insomnia Cookies’ Philadelphia-based headquarters. Most of Insomnia Cookies’ locations are near college campuses, allowing it to best serve students needing a study break or hosting parties.
Insomnia Cookies offers nine varieties of traditional cookies: chocolate chunk, classic with M&Ms, sugar, double chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin, white chocolate macadamia, snickerdoodle, double chocolate mint and peanut butter chip. Deluxe cookies include triple chocolate chunk, s’mores and chocolate peanut butter cup. Ice cream, ’wiches (cookie ice cream sandwiches), brownies and cookie cakes round out the menu.
At the store, cookies can be purchased individually or in packs of six or more, with large advance orders also possible. Since cookies just aren’t the same without milk, a cooler has different types of milk to wash down your cookies. For those who want warm cookies delivered to their homes or dorms, the minimum purchase is $6 with a $2.99 delivery fee. The delivery area is within two miles of the North Avenue retail location, and cookies can be delivered until 3 a.m.
The sweet aroma of Insomnia’s fresh-baked cookies takes you back to grandma’s kitchen. Those who enjoy crisp or crunchy cookies are out of luck, as Insomnia Cookies are the chewy kind and remain so even after they’ve cooled off. When eaten warm, the gooey chocolate chunks melts down your chin; be sure to have a napkin handy. The sugar cookie is not for one with a wimpy sweet tooth, and the peanut butter cookies pack rich peanut butter flavor through a combination of peanut butter dough and peanut butter chips.
It’s hard to choose just one flavor as the most popular,” said Johnson. “Guests seems to love mixing and matching our flavors into a dozen of their favorites, or ordering their favorite cookie a la mode with a scoop of ice cream. That said, we always have something up our sleeve and announce Limited Time offer products throughout the year, as well as seasonal offerings.”
In addition to the company’s website (insomniacookies.com), Johnson encourages people to follow their social media accounts for regular updates: facebook.com/insomniacookies, Twitter @InsomniaCookies, Instagram @insomniacookies, and Snapchat ‘cookiesVIP’.
Insomnia Cookies also has fundraising programs and cookie donations for organizations and causes. |
List of candidates failing to file campaign finance disclosure r - WDAM-TV 7-News, Weather, Sports-Hattiesburg, MS | The deadline for the campaign finance report was 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. (Photo source: SOS)
The Mississippi Secretary of State's office is required to publish a list of candidates for statewide and legislative office who failed to file a campaign finance disclosure report by the required date specified with Mississippi Code.
The deadline for the campaign finance report was 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, and the following candidates have still not filed their report:
Ron Williams
Sharon D. Gipson
Lennell Lucas
Ray Minor
James “Jimmy” Edwards, Jr.
Kenneth Wayne Jones
Jeffery Harness
Daryl L. Porter, Jr.
Gregory Harris
Rogena Mitchell
Dan Q. Carr
Lisa Benderman Wigginton
Brad Mayo
Jeff Hale
Earl S. Lucas
Tyrone Ellis
Lisa Wynn
Reecy Lathan Dickson
Alex Monsour
Joe Bonelli
Machelle Shelby Kyles
Arquillas Coleman
James Perry
Tammy Cotton
Ron Swindall
*David W. Myers (currently deployed overseas)
Tasha Dillon
Ric McCluskey
The Committee to Elect Casey Mercier
Kathryn Rehner, Candidate
Committee to Elect Kathryn Rehner
Joshua Hardy
Brian Pearse
Hunter Dawkins
The following individuals failed to file before the deadline but have since filed the report:
Mike Hurst (filed on deadline day)
Juan Barnett
Rita Potts Parks (filed on deadline day)
Kenneth Walker
Cheikh A. Taylor
For more information about campaign finance requirements, visit the Secretary of State’s Elections Division Campaign Finance webpage.
Copyright WDAM 2018. All rights reserved. |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' play-off dream dies despite win | Brent Grimes' turnover touchdown was in vein as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' slim play-off hopes were diminished despite the win over the Carolina Panthers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' incredibly slim chance of snatching a play-off place ended despite a 17-16 success against the Carolina Panthers. The Bucs needed to win while hoping six other results went in their favour - including the later match between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins and Monday's clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Thurrock Gazette. |
Dollar/Yen off five-month low but US-Japan trade issues limit rise | The dollar added to overnight gains and was up 0.1 percent at 109.040 yen after rising briefly to 109.225.
The dollar pulled away from five-month lows versus the yen on Tuesday, with comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and higher debt yields giving the bruised greenback some breathing space. Still, the dollar was capped by nervousness about Tuesday’s economic dialogue between the United States and Japan. Lingering worries about North Korea and the coming French presidential elections also kept a lid on the dollar against the safe-haven yen.
Mnuchin told the Financial Times that he agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump’s view that the dollar’s strength in the short term was hurting exports, but that he saw the currency’s strength over the long term as a positive. Mnuchin’s comments were seen countering those of the president, who last week said the dollar was too strong, sending it reeling.
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The dollar added to overnight gains and was up 0.1 percent at 109.040 yen after rising briefly to 109.225. It had sunk to a five-month trough of 108.130 earlier on Monday on worries about tensions in the Korean Peninsula. At the U.S.-Japan economic dialogue, there are concerns Washington could take a tough trade stance against Tokyo, which has been wary of Trump’s complaints that Japan and other countries have artificially weakened their currencies.
“For dollar/yen, the main focus will be on what kind of pressure the United States could apply on Japan as basically U.S. trade policy is linked with a policy for a weaker dollar,” said Junichi Ishikawa, senior forex strategist at IG Securities in Tokyo. “The yen cannot simply continue weakening along with higher stocks under such conditions,” he said.
Washington’s standoff with Pyongyang was seen adding a new dimension to U.S.-Japan economic talks, as the United States has sought support from China in confronting North Korea.
“Trump appears to have made a concession regarding China, a key player in the North Korean situation,” said Makoto Noji, senior strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities, referring to last week’s U.S. Treasury’s semi-annual currency report in which the Trump administration backed away from a key campaign promise and did not label China a currency manipulator.
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“But at the same time, for the sake of his supporters, Trump has to stick with his pledge to tackle trade imbalances, and this raises the risk of his administration getting tough with Japan,” Noji said. The dollar index, measuring it against a basket of major currencies, was flat at 100.290 after popping up to 100.400 earlier in the session.
The euro was a shade higher at $1.0652, having seen limited movement on Monday when many European markets were shut for the Easter holiday.
The Australian dollar dipped 0.3 percent to $0.7566. The Aussie nudged up above $0.7600 to a two-week high on Monday on upbeat Chinese growth data. However, weaker prices of iron ore, Australia’s key export, have prevented the currency from staying above that threshold.
Treasury yields rose from five-month lows on Monday as Wall Street shares gained, reducing demand for safe-haven debt.
By Shinichi Saoshiro (Editing by Richard Borsuk) |
Military aircraft makes emergency landing in Milwaukee - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports | A military airplane has made a safe emergency landing in Milwaukee.
A spokesman for the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing says the crew landed safely and exited at Mitchell International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.
The KC-135 aircraft blew out two of its tires as it landed. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports emergency vehicles surrounded the plane after it came to a stop.
The runway was temporarily closed. The plane was towed off the runway at 4 p.m., and the runway reopened and the airport resumed normal operations.
The Air Guard spokesman says the cause of the emergency will be investigated. |
The NDIS costs are on track, but that doesn't mean all participants are getting the support they need | The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is “on track in terms of costs”, according to a position paper released by the Productivity Commission this week. The report further stated that:
if implemented well, it will substantially improve the well-being of people with disability and Australians more generally.
But the Commission’s paper also expressed some significant concerns at the speed the scheme is being rolled out, and that this could undermine its overall effectiveness. The report highlighted a number of areas that are proving challenging for those accessing the scheme. It noted that such barriers to access are, in fact, contributing to keeping the costs on track.
Where the NDIS is succeeding
Rarely a day has gone by in recent months without a news story about the perceived failings of the NDIS. The scheme has been reported as “plagued with problems” and concerns aired about a potential “cost blowout” .
As a result, the government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake an independent review into the overall costs of the scheme, its value for money and long-term sustainability. The full report is due by September.
The current position paper goes to great lengths to acknowledge the size of the challenge in delivering the NDIS. It argues that the
scale, pace and nature of the changes it is driving are unprecedented in Australia.
When fully implemented, the scheme will involve the delivery of individualised support to 475,000 people at a cost of A$22 billion per year.
There is no doubt the NDIS is complex, but the Commission finds that there is “extraordinary” commitment to the success and sustainability of the scheme. It notes that making the scheme work is not simply the job of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), but also that of government, participants, families and carers, providers and the community.
Based on the data collected, the Commission finds NDIS costs are broadly on track with the modelling of the NDIA. A greater number of children are entering the scheme than expected, leading to some cost pressures, but the report notes the NDIA is putting initiatives in place to help deal with these challenges.
The report also finds benefits of the NDIS becoming apparent, with many, but not all, NDIS participants receiving more disability support than previously and having more choice and control.
Problems with the scheme
Many people who are dissatisfied with the scheme have reported they couldn’t find care providers to deliver their funded and approved plans. This kind of under-utilisation of services is a factor contributing to keeping costs on track. Such findings are in line with recent independent research into consumer experiences of the scheme.
Overall the report finds there is insufficient flexibility in the NDIA’s operational budget and that money could be spent more in a way that reflects the insurance principles of the scheme, such as greater amounts of funding being invested in prevention and early intervention services.
The process of care planning needs greater attention. Pressure on the NDIA to get numbers of people on to the scheme means that the quality of the care planning processes have been decreased in some cases. This has caused “confusion for many participants about planning processes” and has resulted in poor outcomes for them.
There is a significant challenge in relation to the disability care workforce. The Commission estimates that one in five new jobs created in Australia in the next few years will need to be in the disability care sector. The report notes that current approaches to generating greater numbers of workers and providers are insufficient.
A range of responses required to address these include a more targeted approach to skilled migration, better market management, and allowing formal and informal carers to provide paid care and better price monitoring and regulation.
The interface between the NDIS and other disability and mainstream services has also proved problematic. There is a lack of clarity in terms of where the responsibilities of different levels of government lie and who should be providing which services. Some people with a disability have lost access to supports they used to get as state government disability services close down.
Need for political will
The Commission describes the roll-out to the full scheme as “highly ambitious” and expresses concern it risks not being implemented as intended. Indeed the speed of the NDIS roll-out is described as having “put the scheme’s success and financial sustainability at risk”.
The report concludes that if the scheme is to achieve its objectives there needs to be a
better balance between participant intake, the quality of plans, participant outcomes, and financial sustainability.
The NDIS is taking a number of steps to deal with these issues but the Commission “is unable to form a judgement on whether such a refocus can be achieved while also meeting the roll-out timetable”.
What all of this means is that we will need to see some enormous political will to enable the scheme to be supported to reach its full potential. This will likely involve some slowing of the timetable for implementation and some difficult work to deal with a number of the areas that have been identified as problematic. Whether the government has an appetite to see this through remains to be seen. |
Sheffield United: Chris Wilder reveals why his team’s will always attack, no matter what the situation | Chris Wilder last night insisted nothing, not even being reduced to 10 men, will stop Sheffield United trying to win games of football so long as he remains in charge at Bramall Lane.
And to underline his message, the United manager pointed to the tactics they adopted during last week’s game against Bristol City, despite John Fleck’s red card midway through the second-half.
Wilder’s team continued to chase the game following the midfielder’s dismissal, introducing both Clayton Donaldson and David Brooks before eventually losing the game in added time.
Although the 50-year-old conceded that bringing-on the likes of Jake Wright, Daniel Lafferty of Cameron Carter-Vickers might have enabled United to claim a point, he said: “We’re positive with our substitutions because we always want to win. Things aren’t going for us at the moment but we’ll keep going, keep doing the right things, to get ourselves back on track.”
United slipped to sixth in the table following the latest round of Championship fixtures, following Aden Flint’s late strike four days ago. Despite later acknowledging that adopting a more conservative approach might have prevented the defender from scoring, Wilder’s refusal to alter his tactics represents a calculated gamble on the part of United’s coaching staff. Not only do they suspect attacking opposition teams instead of trying to hit them on the break will deliver greater returns over the course of the season, Wilder, his assistant Alan Knill and head of sports science Matt Prestridge also believe it reflects the wishes of a fan base which complained about the tactics employed by previous regimes before their appointments 19 months ago.
“We went for it and we kept going for it,” Wilder, whose side returns to action at Preston North End this weekend, said. “Because that’s what we do, it’s what we are about.” |
Phillips Media Acquires Sedalia Democrat | Like & Share E&P:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/phillips-media-acquires-sedalia-democrat/
Phillips Media Group has acquired the daily Sedalia (MO) Democrat from North Carolina-based Civitas Media.
Dirks, Van Essen & Murray, a media merger and acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, represented Civitas Media in the transaction.
“Sedalia seems like a very solid community and we’re excited to be involved with the Democrat. I look forward to meeting people in the community,” Phillips Media President Jim Holland said. “What was attractive to us is that the Democrat fits our size of newspaper and Sedalia fits the size of town where we like to do business. We look forward to serving the people of Sedalia.”
In the 1970s, the Phillips family and their companies, under the leadership of Rupert Phillips, owned newspapers in Yellville, Mountain Home, Berryville and Eureka Springs, Arkansas, as well as Nevada, Marshall and Maryville, Missouri.
Phillips returned to ownership in Missouri and Arkansas in March 2015 with the acquisition of the Harrison Daily Times and Newton County Times in Arkansas and the Bolivar Herald-Free Press, the Buffalo Reflex, the Cedar County Republican, the Christian County Headliner News and the Nixa Express in Missouri. Phillips Media Group bought the properties from Community Publishers Inc. of Bentonville, Arkansas.
The Sedalia Democrat was founded in 1868 as a weekly newspaper and began its daily edition, originally called the Daily Democrat, in 1871. Civitas Media acquired the Sedalia operation from Freedom Communications in 2012. |
Zimbabwe sets first post-Mugabe elections for July 30 | By MacDonald Dzirutwe
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on July 30, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Wednesday, a vote he promises will be free and fair with international monitoring after the ouster of 94-year-old strongman Robert Mugabe.
Mnangagwa, who took power after the November military coup against Mugabe, counts on the election to bolster his legitimacy as he pursues a promised break with Mugabe's repressive policies while urging foreign investors to return to Zimbabwe.
Missing from the July ballot for the first time in 20 years will be Zimbabwe's foremost political gladiators, Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, the longtime opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader who died of cancer in February.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said it had picked companies in southern Africa to print ballot papers and supply voting ink. The MDC wanted printing of ballots to be put to an open tender, but this was rejected by the government.
ZEC chairwoman Priscilla Chigumba told reporters that the commission's partners, including U.N. agencies, would provide a quarter of the $198 million budget needed to hold the elections.
Mnangagwa has invited the Commonwealth to monitor voting in Zimbabwe for the first time since 2002 when Harare was suspended from the group over accusations of rigged elections. He has applied for Zimbabwe to rejoin the Commonwealth. [
If the election is approved by international monitors, it could be a key step to unlocking foreign lending to Zimbabwe, which has been largely cut off for two decades.
The vote is being cast as a fight between the old guard of Zimbabwe's 1970s independence war and a younger generation.
Mnangagwa's main challenger is 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa from the MDC, who has energised the party, drawing huge crowds at rallies in some of the ruling ZANU-PF party's rural redoubts.
Sixty percent of the 5.4 million voters on the new register are under 50 years old, according to official data.
The Constitutional Court on Wednesday dismissed an application by Zimbabweans living abroad to be allowed to vote. The court did not immediately give a reason.
In a brief statement in an official government gazette, Mnangagwa said he had fixed July 30 "as the day of the election of the president, the election of members of the national assembly and election of councillors."
Prospective candidates will be registered on June 14.
A presidential run-off vote is set for Sept. 8 if no candidate gets at least the 50 percent-plus-one vote required to win.
LEGITIMACY
For the 75-year-old Mnangagwa, victory would accord him democratic legitimacy after taking power following the coup.
Mnangagwa urged ZANU-PF primary election candidates at a meeting on Wednesday to unite to ensure victory. He forecast that ZANU-PF would prevail over the more than 100 political parties expressing an interest in contesting the election.
Nicknamed "Crocodile" for his secretive and insular demeanour, Mnangagwa goes into the election with the advantage of incumbency, allowing him access to state resources for his campaign.
Crucially, Mnangagwa enjoys the backing of the army, which analysts say remains averse to any leader who, unlike him, lacks a pedigree from the liberation war against white rule.
"Though the election looks like it will go to the wire, the greater likelihood, based on cold-blooded analysis, is that experience, depth and state incumbency will triumph over youthfulness," said Eldred Masunungure, a professor of political science at the University of Zimbabwe.
Critics say Mnangagwa was Mugabe's most loyal acolyte and blame him for a government crackdown on rebels loyal to political rival Joshua Nkomo in the mid-1980s that rights groups say killed 20,000 civilians.
Mnangagwa has denied the charges and says political freedoms have improved under his short tenure and that he is repairing frosty relations with the West.
(Editing by James Macharia and Andrew Roche)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. |
Saudi Arabia considering changes to debut dollar sukuk structure -sources | DUBAI, March 29 Saudi Arabia is considering whether to change the structure of its planned U.S. dollar sukuk issue, which would be the kingdom's first international issue of Islamic bonds, banking sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
Riyadh is expected to sell up to $10 billion of sukuk with an issue that could take place in the next few weeks, bankers say. It has been planning a hybrid structure for the sukuk.
The structure would comprise a mudaraba agreement, a form of Islamic investment management partnership, plus a murabaha facility that would trade commodities with a special purpose vehicle.
But potential changes to that structure are now under discussion to make the instrument more easily tradable and less complex to understand for international investors, the sources said. A spokesman for the Saudi finance ministry declined to comment.
Some bankers who are not involved in the deal said they believed the debate over the sukuk structure might be the reason that Saudi Arabia had not already launched the issue, given the current favourable market conditions with low credit spreads in the region.
A hybrid mudaraba-murabaha structure is being used in a private placement of riyal-denominated sukuk now being conducted by Saudi Aramco, the national oil company.
But this structure may be too complex for some international investors, possibly to the point of testing their appetite for the issue, said one banker familiar with the debate, declining to be named because the matter is private.
While Gulf investors and a sub-set of Western institutions would probably be comfortable with a hybrid sukuk structure, Riyadh might need to attract a wider investor base for an issue approaching $10 billion, which would be the world's largest dollar Islamic bond sale.
So the structure may be changed to an ijara format, a lease-financing structure which is common among sovereign sukuk issuance around the world and is better known internationally, some bankers said.
An ijara sukuk, however, might require the transfer of some assets pledged for the sukuk into a special purpose vehicle. Shifting sovereign assets into an SPV could lead to legal and regulatory hurdles, the bankers said.
The complexity of sukuk and investors' lack of familiarity with them has long been recognised as barrier to growth of the market. For that reason, two top standard-setting bodies in Islamic finance have in the last few months proposed new guidelines for sukuk, aiming to make them more transparent and standardised.
The new issue would be Saudi Arabia’s second international bond sale after a $17.5 billion debut conventional bond issue last October. That was the largest-ever emerging market debt sale.
The kingdom started tapping international debt markets to diversify its sources of finance and plug a huge budget deficit caused by low oil prices.
Citi, HSBC and JP Morgan are global coordinators on the planned issue. BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank are also involved with lead roles, and other banks might join the group of lead managers, banking sources have said. (Editing by Andrew Torchia/Jeremy Gaunt) |
Best Selling Book, Female Pelvic Alchemy, Is Now Free on Amazon for 5 Days (until 08/18/2017) | Best Seller Publishing announces the release of Isa Herreras new book, Female Pelvic Alchemy: Trade Secrets For Energizing Your Sex Life, Enhancing Your Orgasms, and Loving Your Lady Parts. It will be available for free download in the Amazon Kindle Store on August 14th.
With Female Pelvic Alchemy: Trade Secrets for Energizing Your Sex Life, Enhancing Your Orgasms, and Loving Your Lady Parts, physical therapist, educator, and author Isa Herrera continues to empower women to achieve lifelong health and wellness. This comprehensive but easy-to-read manual is brimming with tools, exercises and techniques that she has developed and used to successfully treat thousands of women suffering with incontinence, prolapse and sexual dysfunction. The right way to Kegel, how to perform your own self-exams and massages, how to reconnect to your orgasms and how to strengthen your core are among the many trade secrets that Herrera shares with her readers.
Female Pelvic Alchemy addresses pelvic floor muscle dysfunction from a holistic, energetic, and integrated approach. Herrera explains how chakra exercises and the mind/body connection are as vital to her self-healing program as traditional therapies. Acting as a guide and coach, Herrera arms her readers not only with information but with the compassion and insight to help them develop a positive fighting attitude and learn how to take control of their symptoms. Step-by-instructions, photos, diagrams, and additional resources make Female Pelvic Alchemy a must-read for the woman who wants to embark on her own healing journey.
Female Pelvic Alchemy by Isa Herrera will be free and available for download on Amazon for 5 days (08/14/2017-08/18/2017) at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742FKW1H. Female Pelvic Alchemy has a 4.8-star rating on Amazon.com. Heres what some people are saying:
Amazing resource. There are 1000s of women suffering from pelvic pain and frustrated because they are not receiving an accurate diagnosis from their medical professionals. Often the treatment makes the symptoms worse or creates new medical issues. Isa has compiled her years of hands on experience as physical therapist and a healer and generously created this guide to holistically heal yourself. It is truly a gift. Donna Cravotta
How cool that this book has been written for us! Most people dont want to talk about lady parts in detail and women have few places they can turn for intimate advice and guidance. This book is about wellness, addressing a central part of our bodies that no one wants to talk about! Thank you for this book; first for the idea and wisdom and then for the concrete advice of things to do and exercises and herb recommendations - I look forward to exploring your sage advice! Melissa Green
For More Information:
For more questions or to schedule an interview about this press release please contact Rebecca, Author Liaison, at (626) 765-9750 or email info@bestsellerpublishing.org .
Best Seller Publishing is a Los Angeles Publishing Company dedicated to helping business owners and entrepreneurs become the hunted with their best-selling books.
About the Author:
Isa Herrera, MSPT, CSCS is a New York City-based holistic womens pelvic floor specialist, author of 4 books on pelvic health, including the ground-breaking self-help book, Ending Female Pain, A Womans Manual. She has dedicated her career to advancing awareness of pelvic floor conditions so that more people can find relief from this silent epidemic that affects over 30 million people in the US alone. Ms. Herrera holds a BA in Psychology and Biology from Fordham University and a Masters in Physical Therapy from Hunter College, and her online pelvic education portal is www.PelvicPainRelief.com |
10 Movies to enjoy with your family on the 70th Independence Day | This year marks the 71styear of India's Independence. It is a day for every Indian to beam with pride and joy and recall the struggles and sacrifices of the freedom fighters to achieve Independence.
Also read: Independence Day: Mercedes-Benz India launches GLC Celebration Edition at Rs 50.86 lakh
Apart from that, Independence Day is marked a holiday on the calendar. So, it is the perfect time for the family to catch up and bond over watching great flicks. Let's celebrate this Independence Day by watching some of the amazing Indian movies.
Here we have compiled some of the best Indian movies you can catch on television and Netflix while chilling out with the fam-jam.
Take a look at the list below. |
Suzette Little under fire for misconduct and possible misuse of resources | Suzette has been accused of very serious allegations, including using a VIP unit to take her to and from work. Wow.
Image Credits: @suzette.little2 / Facebook
According to Eyewitness News, staff members of the City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee have come out to speak against Suzette Little, accusing her of misconduct and mismanagement of resources.
Who is Suzette Little?
Suzette Little, who is the City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member (MMC), serves the Mother City under the flagship of the DA. In her capacity, she represents the interests of communities and makes recommendations to Council regarding important public service and other municipal issues.
Two city employees have come forward to allege that Little has been shuffling off her duties. She has also been implicated in certain cases involving the misuse of the city’s resources.
What is Suzette Little accused of?
This all came to light after staff members from her office were allegedly forced, by Little, to illegally shred council documents. It is further alleged that the city’s MMC prioritizes personal commitments over important meetings and forces staff members to be selective over which councillor should be assisted.
Dirk Smit, who is the City’s Council Speaker, has responded to the allegations, saying that “there are allegations made against councillor Little, which I’m gathering information to see if it’s necessary to take disciplinary action against councillor Little”.
What is the City of Cape Town going to do about allegations made against Suzette Little?
Smit has also made it clear that the fate of Little’s position in the party has not yet been decided. According to the Council Speaker, no decision has yet been made on whether or not the office will take steps towards pursuing disciplinary actions against Little.
Other allegations made against Little include using the VIP unit to transport her to and from work, and orders that certain DA councillors be investigated using unorthodox methods.
Little has since not been available to provide any information to counter these serious allegations made against her. It is said that she has submitted her response to the speaker’s office under the guidance of her attorneys. |
22 years after stroke, victim shows gratitude for Aspen first responders | Walton “Tony” Childs and his family made sure this week to show gratitude for Aspen’s first responders, even if it was 22 years after the fact.
It was some time around 5 in the morning Dec. 22, 1994, when Childs “literally jumped out of bed,” as his wife, Lee, recalled it, at his guest room at The Little Nell Hotel.
“I knew he had a stroke,” she said. “I don’t now why, I just did.”
She made an emergency phone call. First responders arrived shortly later, including EMS from the Aspen Fire Department and paramedics from the ambulance service.
“I was lucky because I was only 45,” said Walton Childs, who speaks with a speech impediment from the cerebrovascular accident, more commonly referred to as a stroke. “If you are young enough, the recovery is much easier. When you’re a 65-year-old man, it’s different.”
Two days before the stroke, Childs, an accomplished skier, had broken his thumb after a fall. He had surgery the following day and was given medication to lower his blood pressure. The next morning he suffered a massive, life-changing stroke.
These days he walks with a limp in his right leg, his right hand not fully functional. But he’s thankful to be alive — he also plays golf — and said he owes it in part to Aspen’s first responders as well as Aspen Valley Hospital, where he was initially transported before being flown to a hospital in New York.
While Childs was at Aspen Valley Hospital, physicians there contacted a neurologist in Denver who came here to evaluate him.
“[The neurologist] was there the next day,” Lee Childs said. “The medical treatment he received was phenomenal. Those first 24 to 48 hours are so critical.”
On Wednesday, the Childs couple, who split their time between Maine and Florida, and their son Brentley visited the Aspen Fire Department to show their appreciation. Brentley Childs, who was in Aspen with his family and was 15 years old at the time of his dad’s stroke, said the episode “subconsciously” inspired him to have a career in public safety. Now 32, he is a paramedic and firefighter in Exeter, New Hampshire, and is a ski patrolman at Attitash Mountain Resort. He and Rick Balentine, CEO and fire chief of the Aspen Fire Department, traded their departments’ hats and patches and talked a little shop.
“I’m glad you guys decided to come back after 22 years,” Balentine said.
In fact, Lee and Walton had not returned to Aspen since his stroke. They just couldn’t bring themselves to do it.
“There was kind of a trepidation,” Lee said, but added that “the memory was so good of the care he received.”
They were inspired to visit over the holidays because numerous family members are in Aspen. That was the motivation they needed, they said.
“So this year we said, ‘OK, two of our children our here, our grandsons are here, and we just have to do it,” Lee said. “We’ve been afraid. We’ve been really chicken.”
Walton said he underwent two and a half years of speech lessons, three times a week.
“That was the most important thing, because you can’t do anything if you can’t communicate,” he said.
Balentine said he did not know which first responders tended to Childs that morning. Many are no longer with the Fire Department or ambulance service. Tom Walsh, EMT-P, also was on hand for the Childs’ show of appreciation. He said he’s not sure if he was there, either.
Balentine and Walsh have been first responders so many times they can’t keep count. Even so, they appreciated the Childs’ showing of gratitude.
“If it wasn’t so busy at [Aspen Valley Hospital], I’d tell you to stop by there,” Balentine joked with the Childs.
They elected to pass, saying they’d prefer to avoid the hospital on this visit.
rcarroll@aspentimes.com |
‘Everybody has their own choice’ says Brady of White House visit | New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Tuesday he is OK with his teammates’ decision to skip the Super Bowl winning team’s White House visit because “everybody has their own choice.”
Six of his teammates — Devin McCourty, Martellus Bennett, Chris Long, LeGarrette Blount, Alan Branch, Dont’a Hightower — have said they plan on skipping the expected upcoming visit.
Bennett, McCourty and Blount directly cited their opposition to Trump as a reason for their boycott, but Brady said the tradition of Super Bowl champs visiting the White House each year “never really was a political thing” for him.
“Putting politics aside it never really was a political thing — at least it never was for me,” Brady told NBC Sports. “It was just always something that was a privilege to be able to do because it really meant you won a championship and you got to experience something cool with your team and your teammates.”
The five-time Super Bowl champ has been friends with President Donald Trump for years. He noted his own record of missing a White House visit — in April 2015, when the team was honored by President Barack Obama.
“Everybody has their own choice. There’s certain years, like a couple years ago, I wanted to go, and then didn’t get the opportunity based on the scheduling,” Brady said. “We didn’t get told until 10 days before we were going and at that point I had something that I had been planning for months.”
At the time, a Patriots spokesman told ESPN that Brady had a “family commitment.
The Patriots have been linked to Trump because of the President’s friendship with Brady, head coach, Bill Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft. Kraft joined Trump last week at Mar-a-Lago, where they dined with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Kraft downplayed reports of his players skipping the White House visit during an interview on NBC’s “Today” show Monday, saying that various players choose to skip the White House visit each but “this is the first time it’s gotten any media attention.”
“Every time we’ve had the privilege of going to the White House, a dozen of our players don’t go,” Kraft said. “This is the first time it’s gotten any media attention … Some of the players have the privilege of going in college because they’re on national championship teams, (and) others have family commitments.”
Kraft told The New York Times last month that Trump is going “to be great for the economic side of America.”
“Loyalty is important to me, and he has been a wonderful friend,” Kraft said. “I think one of the great problems in the country today is the working poor, the middle class, that there hasn’t been growth in income on an equal basis, and I really think the policies he’s going to bring to bear are going to be great for the economic side of America.”
But Brady, who faced controversy during the 2016 election when a “Make America Great Again” hat was spotted in his locker, has been evasive when asked about Trump, keeping his comments non-political. |
11:30 a.m. Tuesday: Chat about all things Buffett, Berkshire | Omaha, NE (68102)
Today
Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 95F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..
Tonight
Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 72F. ESE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. |
Research, Innovate And Grow With Horizon 2020 | 14 Aug 2017 | 02.53 pm
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Businesses seeking funding for research or innovation activities but who are unsure what to do next should start with InterTradeIreland’s Horizon 2020 Support Service, according to Carrie Gribben, Horizon 2020 Manager at InterTradeIreland
Horizon 2020 is the European Commission’s largest ever research and innovation programme, with a budget of almost €80bn from 2014-2020. Unlike its predecessor FP7, Horizon 2020 has new instruments specifically aimed at funding the most innovative of Europe’s SMEs.
Furthermore, SMEs can individually lead projects or join larger pan-European consortia involving multiple types of partners, and there are funding opportunities across many areas, including ICT, Energy, Agri-Food, Marine, Health, Environment, Security and Advanced Manufacturing and more.
To date, enterprises across Ireland and Northern Ireland have been extremely successful in Horizon 2020 but the EU funding landscape can be a difficult and daunting one to navigate, particularly if you are a newcomer. Thankfully, that’s where InterTradeIreland can help.
“To try to help businesses prepare for Horizon 2020, InterTradeIreland offers a suite of supports for SMEs, including funding of up to €500 towards travel costs in relation to building cross-border partnerships for Horizon 2020,” Carrie Gribben explains.
“There are two types of travel voucher available. The first is aimed at helping newcomers connect with possible partners in the opposite jurisdiction. Identifying partners can often be the first major hurdle for newcomers but InterTradeIreland works very closely with the existing Horizon 2020 Support Networks in Northern Ireland and Ireland to make this process much easier.
“ITI can quickly facilitate introductions to potential partners from academia, industry and other types of organisations. The second voucher supports the next stage in the process, when cross-border partnerships will travel to Brussels or elsewhere in the EU to conduct a range of activities that can help strengthen their proposal such as attending information or brokerage events, engaging with the European Commission or holding pre-submission consortium meetings.
“The application process for both schemes is very simple, so I would really encourage SMEs to consider applying for travel support. The new 2018-2020 Horizon 2020 Work Programmes will be released later this year, so further events are being planned both here and across the EU — perfect timing for SMEs wanting to learn more about all of the upcoming opportunities.”
Who is eligible to receive the vouchers?
Companies and academics from Northern Ireland and Ireland with an interest in applying to Horizon 2020 on a cross-border partnership.
How can I access this support?
Find out more about the advice available on our website. If you are interested in availing of this service you can then contact Carrie directly on 048 3083 4172 or by emailing carrie.gribben@intertradeireland.com.
About InterTradeIreland
InterTradeIreland helps small businesses explore new cross-border markets, develop new products, processes and services and become investor ready.
We provide practical cross-border business funding, business intelligence and meaningful contacts to SMEs across the island, North and South, looking to grow their businesses. For more information on Brexit and the supports provided by InterTradeIreland, visit http://www.intertradeireland.com and Discover What’s Possible. |
The WaPo Obstruction Blockbuster and the World of Hurt To Come | After marveling at the lede of this new Washington Post bombshell – Mueller investigating Trump for obstruction of justice – I went back and read the whole piece again. You would think that news would be enough for a single piece. But when you read it all the way through the picture it paints is actually considerably more dire.
One key point is that Mueller did not start this obstruction investigation. According to the Post, that probe began “days after Comey was fired on May 9…” Mueller was appointed on May 17th. Reading the Post piece closely, I do not think it explicitly says that the probe began prior to the 17th. But the wording and logic of the piece strongly suggests that is the case.
One key point I draw from this is that it was clear to people at the DOJ and FBI almost from the beginning that this was a potential case of obstruction of justice. That makes me consider who then was in place to make such a decision. Once James Comey was fired, the acting Director of the FBI was Andrew McCabe, who remains in that role. If my surmise about the chronology is correct, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein remained in charge of the Russia probe. Thus I think he would have been acting in Attorney General Sessions’ stead to make the decision to authorize such a probe.
This last point isn’t crystal clear to me since this would not necessarily have been considered part of the Russia investigation. In any case, you do not begin such an investigation of a sitting President except at the very highest level. That decision apparently came quickly. We can note here that soon after Comey’s firing Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein made statements suggesting that he may have been a witness to something that could be construed as a crime. If my memory serves, McCabe did as well. They are the two logical people to have signed off on an investigation at that point.
What were they going on?
Remember, President Trump gave his interview to Lester Holt two days after the firing on May 11th. It was in that interview that Trump said this: “[Rosenstein] had made a recommendation. But regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey knowing there was no good time to do it. And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself — I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should’ve won.”
Reading through this article, contemplating that the President less than five months in office is already being investigated for obstruction of justice, what is so mind-boggling is that the case isn’t even really a he said, he said dispute. How do we know the President fired Comey because of the Russia investigation? He said so on national television! And he said something similar the day before, on May 10th, only this time in a private setting.
On May 19th, the Times reported a White House memorandum summarizing Sergei Lavrov’s meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office. In that meeting President Trump said “I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job. I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
This meeting was on May 10th, the day after Comey’s dismissal. The memorandum was likely written later that day. In other words, almost immediately after firing Comey, within the following two days, President Trump made at least two statements in which he essentially admitted or more like boasted about firing Comey with the specific goal of impeding or ending the Russia probe. There are various and highly significant complexities tied to the unique role of the President. He is the only person in the country who can, arguably, obstruct an investigation by exercising his statutory right to fire a members of the executive branch. But on its face, this is essentially admitting to obstruction.
It will be interesting to see whether either or both of these admissions played into the decision to launch a probe and precisely who authorized it. In any case, Robert Mueller has now subsumed it into his broader mandate and purview.
The additional detail about this part of the Russia investigation writ large is that Mueller appears to see this potential obstruction of justice as either including Trump’s requests to DNI Coats and NSA chief Rodgers or in some way evidenced by what he asked these two men to do. The article also says preliminary interviews suggest Mueller’s team is “actively pursuing potential witnesses inside and outside the government.”
What does this mean?
Here’s one guess. We know that President Trump has a number of close friends who he calls frequently to shoot the shit, rant or just unwind. Newsmax owner Chris Ruddy seems to be one of these. There appear to be plenty more. We can see that Trump was far from discreet in sharing his thinking and motivation about firing Comey. He literally said it in a nationally televised TV interview and in a conversation with the Russian foreign minister. We also know that he spent the previous weekend at his Bedminster golf club stewing in his anger at Comey and finally deciding it was time to fire him. Given all this, it seems close to impossible that Trump didn’t stream of consciousness with many of his sundry associates and toadies about what he was planning to do and why.
Those people are all now witnesses.
The one additional part of the WaPo article is broad and vague but in its own way represents the most peril for the President and his entourage. At one point the article reads: “Mueller is overseeing a host of investigations involving people who are or were in Trump’s orbit, people familiar with the probe said. The investigation is examining possible contacts with Russian operatives as well as any suspicious financial activity related to those individuals.” Earlier in the piece, there’s this: “Investigators have also been looking for any evidence of possible financial crimes among Trump associates, officials said.”
The seeming multiplicity of investigations speaks for itself. But it is the repeated reference to “financial crimes” or “suspicious financial activity” that grabs my attention.
Experts will tell you that “financial crimes” can often mean technical infractions, ways of structuring or organizing movements of money, failures to disclose, certain actions that are prima facie evidence of efforts to conceal, etc. This doesn’t mean these are just ‘technicalities’ in the colloquial sense. They are rather infractions the nature of which may be hard for a layperson to understand but which often end up snaring defendants when other crimes are too difficult to prove. But here’s the thing about the Trump world. I don’t have subpoena power. And we’ve yet to assign a reporting crew to the Trump entourage beat full time. But even with my own limited reporting, it is quite clear to me that there are numerous people in Trump’s entourage (or ‘crew’, if you will) including Trump himself whose history and ways of doing business would not survive first contact with real legal scrutiny. It sounds like Mueller sees all of that within his purview, in all likelihood because the far-flung business deealings of Trump and his top associates are the membrane across which collusion and quid pro quos could have been conducted.
As I said, a basic perusal of business in the Trump world makes clear that serious legal scrutiny would turn up no end of problems. Just consider what was from a financial perspective, a tiny island in the Trump archipelago of mischief, The Trump Foundation which David Fahrenthold did so much with. Almost every rock Fahrenthold overturned exposed some self-dealing, at least legal violations and often real wrongdoing and as much as anything a wild level of sloppiness and indifference to doing business like even semi-honest people. From one perspective it’s hard to say Trump knowingly broke the law with the Foundation since the whole conduct of the Foundation seemed to be carried on as though none of the relevant laws even existed. Again, the Foundation was just a sideline for Trump. It’s not where he made his big money and ran off from his biggest obligations. That’s how they do business.
If Mueller is taking a serious prosecutor’s lens to Trump’s financial world and the financial worlds of Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, Mike Flynn and numerous others, there’s going to be a world of hurt for a lot of people. And that is if no meaningful level of 2016 election collusion even happened.
And I don’t think that’s true. |
Live now: Woman climbs on the bottom of the Statue of Liberty, 7 arrested | A woman has climbed the base of the Statue of Liberty and seven people have been arrested on Liberty Island, all of whom are believed to be protesters, law enforcement sources told CNN.
At one point, the woman walked back and forth under Lady Liberty’s sandal and then sat down and appeared to unfurl a small flag or banner. The other protesters held a banner over the railing at the base of the statue.
Law enforcement officials were seen mounting a ladder to the base of the statue and talking to the woman, who was sitting in the folds of the statue’s gown.
The NYPD is building a rope rescue system to help bring the woman down from the base, because officers don’t believe she will come down on her own, a police source told CNN.
Liberty Island has been evacuated while they attempt to get her down, according to Jerry Willis with the National Park Service.
The NYPD says three of its emergency service units and a harbor unit are on scene. |
Samsung Electronics gets South Korea nod to test driverless car carrying its parts, software | A flag bearing the logo of Samsung Electronics is pictured at its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, November 29, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
SEOUL Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has got permission from South Korean authorities to domestically test a driverless vehicle fitted with its electronic parts and software, as the tech giant aims to muscle into the automotive industry in search of a new growth driver.
The land ministry, in a statement issued on Monday, said the car is a modified version of a South Korean car maker's vehicle using Samsung's own components such as cameras as well as its artificial intelligence software.
The firm plans to use the car to develop a self-driving algorithm capable of driving in adverse weather conditions and next-generation components for autonomous cars, the ministry said.
"We would like to clarify that the company has no plan to enter the car manufacturing business," Samsung told Reuters in a separate statement on Tuesday, adding the vehicle will further its development of "deep learning algorithms for autonomous operations".
Samsung has identified the auto industry as a new source of growth as the market for its key products such as smartphones matures. It completed the $8 billion acquisition of Harman International Industries earlier this year, a move that analysts say may help Samsung scale up quickly by taking control of an automotive parts maker with a proven track record.
It may take years for the auto industry to become a big enough business to rival its mainstay memory chip and smartphone operations, however. Samsung has not clinched any major supply agreements with car makers yet.
(Reporting by Se Young Lee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) |
Inmate struck prison officer in the mouth during outburst at Limerick Prison | A FORMER inmate at Limerick Prison was fined €150 after he admitted assaulting a prison officer while in custody serving a sentence.
Evan McCormack, aged 34, who has an address at Sandfield Centre, Ennis, County Clare pleaded guilty, at Limerick District Court, to an offence under the provisions of Section 2 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
Outling the facts of the case, Sergeant Donal Cronin said the incident happened on a landing at Limerick Prison, Mulgrave Street at around 9.50pm on May 27, 2016.
Mr McComack was being escorted from his cell to the main reception area of the prison by the male prisoner officer at the time.
Sgt Cronin said the defendant became violent and struck the prison officer in the face after he became aggressive when informed he was not going to be released as he had expected.
The named prison officer, the court heard, sustained a small cut inside his mouth as a result of being struck.
While he did not make a victim impact statement, Sgt Cronin confirmed the injured party did not require medical treatment and that the injury he sustained has since “resolved itself”.
The incident, the court heard, was captured on CCTV.
Judge O’Leary was told Mr McCormack has more than 40 previous convictions and that a number of them relate to assault offences.
Solicitor Tom Kiely said his client accepts his previous criminal record is “not good” and that what happened was a “particularly nasty” offence.
He said Mr McCormack accepts the prison officer was just doing his job and he informed the court he had apologised to him personally in the immediate aftermath of the assault.
He also made “full and frank” admissions when questioned about the incident by gardai.
Mr Kiely said the defendant suffers from psychiatric difficulties and that he is “prone to these outbursts” if he is abusing substances and not taking his prescribed medication.
He submitted he was “not on the appropriate regime” during his time in custody and that this had contributed to his behaviour.
Judge O’Leary was told Mr McCormack spent a number of weeks in hospital following his release from prison and that he is now engaging with a number of State agencies.
Noting his guilty plea and the fact that he is addressing his difficulties and attending a psychiatrist, Judge O’Leary imposed a €150 fine. |
Kachikwu: What will happen to those behind Minister’s governorship campaign posters - Group | The Conscience of the Niger Delta, TCN, has warned those insinuating that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu will contest the 2019 governorship election to desist or “incur the wrath of God.”
TCN’s leader, Mitai Okeroghene said those linking the Minister to elective position in the state were out to cause mischief and frustrate Kachikwu from achieving his goal.
Okeroghene made these remarks while reacting to campaign posters of the Minister allegedly running for Delta State governorship election in Delta State.
In a statement he signed, the TCN leader said the Minister is not, “interested in the governorship of Delta or any other elective political office as he currently has a more challenging and critical national assignment, which he has been able to discharge creditably well over the last one year in spite of the attendant challenges in that office.”
Okeroghene, said it was not the first time the issue was being deliberately pushed out to test the waters and which had been dismissed a few times even by Dr. Kachikwu himself, but noted that the timing now reeked of mischief and must be addressed at once.
The TCN leader said those who want to discredit the “performing minister knew what they were doing by churning out ‘his campaign posters’ to make it appear as if he wanted to be governor of Delta State, knowing fvery well this has a lot of implications for his current posting.”
Okeroghene said, “Dr. Kachikwu is not stupid. He is a technocrat and not a politician and has not in any form or shape shown indications of wanting to contest election, and so, it stands to reason that those behind his posters flooding Abuja have a sinister plot to achieve and their message is also clearly directed at their target audience, hence, the choice of Abuja as their location for the posters.
“For the sake of argument, let us admit that Dr. Kachikwu has an interest in the governorship of Delta State, is Abuja the place to start pasting posters? What is the correlation between Abuja and Delta governorship? But, of course, they want to insinuate that he was seeking the Abuja blessing, which of course invalidates the whole idea.
“This is why we have come out to state for emphasis and for the umpteenth time that Dr. Kachikwu is not interested in the governorship of Delta or any other elective political office as he currently has a more challenging and critical national assignment, which he has been able to discharge creditably well in the last over a year in spite of the attendant challenges in that office.”
He said the propensity to want to destroy others without any justification remains a major preoccupation of both the active and the passive players in this part of the world and invariably, the bane of underdevelopment in the country.
He said, “Nothing can explain the attack on Dr. Kachikwu because as far as we are concerned, this is an attack on the career of a man, who is focused and determined to make a change in the best way possible and as permitted within the limitations of his office. He deserves support and commendation and not to make him appear unduly ambitious or losing sight of his current brief.
“But if this is targeted at influencing the rumoured imminent cabinet reshuffle by those who find his ongoing reforms in the system discomforting or a move by those who want to mount pressure on him run for Delta governorship, it is dead on arrival, because Dr. Kachikwu is not oblivious of the weight of the assignment on his hands and is leaving nothing to chance in making sure that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari succeeds.”
Disclosing that they have commenced investigation into those behind the campaign, the TCN leader warned that if they failed to desist from such act, they would be held liable.
“Is it a crime for a man to be adept at his work? It is surprising that after stabilising the sector and still cleansing it of its corrupt past, this is all that Kachikwu gets. But whatever creepy plans they are hatching, he is one man, who will leave government unblemished and very successful,” he said. |
YouTuber Casey Neistat shares story, tips for standing out on YouTube | Please follow and like us:
A professional YouTuber stepped outside the computer screen and onto campus.
YouTube personality and filmmaker Casey Neistat spoke to Ohio State students on Monday as part of the OUABe Spontaneous event, put on by the Ohio Union Activities Board.
Prior to his lecture, Neistat hosted a film workshop where he led a discussion on his involvement in the film industry, past and present, and answered questions from students.
In November 2016, Neistat sold the now-defunct video sharing app he created, Beme, to CNN for a reported $25 million.
Neistat addressed his accumulation of approximately 5.5 million YouTube subscribers over the course of last year, due to the popularity of his daily vlog series. He credited this success with his ability to establish and popularize brief, 10-minute videos of his daily life, which he said no one had consistently done before.
“In a field where YouTubers are the sheep, you need to be the black wolf,” he said during the workshop. “You need to turn the opposite direction and take out every sheep on your way.”
During both parts of the event, Neistat told the audience about his background. He said from a young age he had a clear vision for what success would look like for him. At the age of 19, he recalled wanting to become a television news reporter and produce his own stories. He added that his desire was so strong, that he was willing to uproot himself and relocate to New York City from Connecticut in pursuit of success.
“I reflect on that often because I think that it underscores the importance of having a target, and the greater value in being malleable in terms of what success manifests itself as,” Neistat said.
Neistat regarded many events in his teen years as being unplanned. A high-school dropout, he later moved away from his home and had a child with his then-girlfriend at the age of 16, and together they lived in a trailer park. He harkened back to his sense of comfort and his shifting view of success as a member of the middle class during that time in his life, and encouraged students not to get complacent on the path to achievement.
“Nothing could’ve derailed me during that period,” he said. “And if you have to ask yourself ‘how do I know if I want it?’ then you probably don’t.”
Neistat added that this personal drive led him to work as a bike messenger in order to support his filmmaking aspiration. Finally, with a budget of about $30, Neistat and his brother released a three-minute short film titled “iPod’s Dirty Secret,” which attracted international media exposure. The film highlighted major criticism of the device’s lack of a battery replacement service for its line of iPods, and was covered by The Washington Post, CBS News and BBC News, among other outlets. He attributed his initial success to his motivation to succeed, which he said consumed him.
“If you’re a possessed person, there’s no predetermined path to get you to where you want to be,” he said. “All that matters is you have an idea.” |
ZTE Corp shares rise by daily maximum limit in Shenzhen | FILE PHOTO: The logo of China's ZTE Corp is seen at the lobby of ZTE Beijing research and development center building in Beijing Thomson Reuters HONG KONG (Reuters) - Shenzhen-listed shares of embattled Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp rose on Tuesday by the maximum daily allowed 10 percent in afternoon trading.
ZTE's Hong Kong-listed shares rose as much as 6.5 percent by 0700 GMT, outperforming the benchmark Hang Seng Index that dropped 1.8 percent.
It was not immediately clear why the shares rose.
China's No.2 telecom equipment maker was forced to cease major operations in April after the U.S. slapped it with a supplier ban saying it broke an agreement to discipline executives who conspired to evade U.S. sanctions on Iran and North Korea. ZTE is in the process of getting the ban lifted and announced a new board last week.
(Reporting by Sijia Jiang; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) |
Victor tames Fairport again to repeat as Class AA softball champion | CLOSE The Blue Devils pulled away from Fairport late for an 11-2 win and Class AA title. Jeff DiVeronica
Buy Photo Victor captains hoist the championship block after winning the Section V Class AA championship game at SUNY Brockport, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. No. 1 seed Victor won the Class AA title with a 11-2 win over No. 2 seed Fairport. (Photo: ADRIAN KRAUS)Buy Photo
BROCKPORT – The Victor Blue Devils adopted a motto this season that coach Shelly Collins heard at a softball clinic. It’s about being a “jungle tiger” and not a “zoo tiger.”
Zoo tigers operate on a schedule, Collins said. They know when they’ll get fed. But jungle cats, well, they have to go find their food and adjust to changes in their environment.
“If something happens that we’re not used to, if you’re in the jungle you have to adapt,” Collins said, repeating what she told her players all spring.
That’s what happened in Wednesday’s Section V Class AA softball championship when No. 2 seeded Fairport, a team Victor had beaten 14-2 and 15-0 this spring, took an early lead and then tied the game up later. But the Tigers, errrr, Blue Devils, scratched back. They blew open a tight game on Reagan Gensiejewski’s two-run single in the fourth inning and freshman Maya Thompson’s fifth-inning grand slam. Those big hits and the steady pitching of sophomore Katie Sidare powered the top seed and defending champions to an 11-2 win and third crown in four years.
“They proved that today,” Collins said about her team’s ability to roll with the punches at The College at Brockport. “That’s one thing about these kids. They are confident and cool.”
Next up: Saturday’s 11 a.m. state tournament quarterfinals at Williamsville East. Victor (21-2) plays Section VI champion Lancaster (12-5). The Blue Devils reached the state semifinals last year and in 2015.
“I have so much faith in these girls,” Gensiejewski said.
That starts in the circle with Sidare, who overwhelmed Fairport (20-3) in both regular-season matchups. On Wednesday she struck out 14, scattered five hits (three by senior Megan Palmer) and walked just two.
“I love catching for her because of her confidence and she just doesn’t let one hit get to her,” senior catcher Kyra Grooms said of Sidare. “The team trusts her and that trust is what makes her so good.”
Fairport didn't fluster Sidare even though it took the lead in the first inning when Palmer smacked a two-out home run over the left-field wall. Victor answered on Erin Wong’s two-run shot in the bottom of the inning, as a two-out walk to Sarah Simmons came back to bite Fairport starter Clare Aroune, who walked four and struck out six.
FINAL: @VictorSoftball 11, @FptSoftball 2. Blue Devils repeat. Soph P Katie Sidare is MVP. She struck out 14. Here’s the last one. pic.twitter.com/lvOzDrZAXL — Jeff DiVeronica (@RocDevo) May 30, 2018
Aroune was injured early in the first matchup this spring, then didn’t pitch in the second. So it was Victor’s first time really seeing her. The second time around in the lineup for the Blue Devils, it showed. Victor pounded out 12 hits.
“They hit some hard,” Fairport coach Curt Johnson said.
The Red Raiders responded in the second inning. Maddy Sehnert beat out a bunt and scored when Sidare threw wild of first base after fielding a sacrifice bunt. That tied it at 2. Sidare struck out the next two batters and induced a pop up back to her to wiggle out of the jam.
The Blue Devils went ahead 4-2 on Gensiejewski's clutch two-out, bases-loaded single. Aroune jammed her on the pitch, but Gensiejewski muscled it. The ball landed just behind second base before rolling into the outfield. Thompson, the designated player (hitter), had started the rally with a one-out single, then Syd Powell and Emily Power worked walks.
Aroune had induced a ground ball to Palmer at shortstop, leading to a force at home for the second out. But then Gensiejewski, Victor’s No. 9 hitter came through.
“We knew it was going to be a tough battle,” said Gensiejewski, who will play next at Hillsdale College in Michigan. “But I have so much faith in these girls and they are such good hitters. We knew it was a matter of time.”
Sidare retired the side in order in top of the fifth for the first time in the game, and that momentum carried into Victor’s next at-bat.
Freshman Maya Thompson’s fifth-and grand slam gives @VictorSoftball an 8-2 lead. Here it is. pic.twitter.com/WeNRk6gWKx — Jeff DiVeronica (@RocDevo) May 30, 2018
Grooms and Simmons started the fifth inning with hard-hit singles. An error loaded the bases and then Thompson slammed the first pitch she saw from Aroune over the fence left-center field.
Teammates call her “granny,” because she has hit four slams this season.
“After the first at-bat, I learned what the (pitcher) was like and how to adjust,” Thompson said.
Wong, last year’s tournament MVP when she pitched Victor to the title, lined a run-scoring single in the sixth to make it 9-2 and Powell added a two-run single.
“Nothing really surprises me when it comes to this team,” Gensiejewski said.
JDIVERON@Gannett.com
Class AA all-tournament team: Ally Sobaszek (Rush-Henrietta), Emily Willis-Nersinger (Webster Schroeder), Erin Wong (Victor), Victoria Catalano (Fairport), Megan Palmer (Fairport), Maya Thompson (Victor), Regan Gensiejewski (Victor), Maddy Sehnert (Fairport). MVP: Katie Sidare (Victor).
JDIVERON@Gannett.com
SATURDAY: Fairport, Victor advance to softball championship
RELATED: Section V softball tournament storylines |
Archaeologists confirm multiple ancient Bronze age tools made from meteorites, knowledge of time needs to be 'revised' | Using cutting-edge technology, scientists have discovered that ancient Bronze Age tools were created using iron from meteorites at a time before humans were unable to smelt iron ore.Archaeologists have unearthed new ancient iron artifacts that utilize iron from meteorites, at a time when early humans were not thought to be able to smelt iron ore.According to a study in the Journal of Archaeological Science , the artifacts were determined to have extraterrestrial iron using an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The spectrometer is used to detect iron elements in the tools and other objects and has been an advancement in techniques used for testing as it does not degrade the items, a key fear for archaeologists."The few iron objects from the Bronze Age sensu stricto that could be analyzed are definitely made of meteoritic iron, suggesting that," the study's abstract reads, courtesy of Science Direct.The tools were found in areas of Syria, Turkey and Egypt, where it is thought that humans did not have the technology or understanding to smelt iron at the time.The research also unearthed higher levels of nickel and cobalt than is traditionally found on Earth, effectivelyWith the new discovery, researchers believe this opens up the possibility to further understandingThe analysis was done by Albert Jambon from the National Center for Scientific Research in France.Other artifacts from around the world have been discovered to have traces of meteroic iron in them.Last year, an Egyptian dagger was found in King Tutankhamun's tomb to be made with iron from a meteorite. |
I-84 westbound in West Hartford reopened following serious motor vehicle accident | Please enable Javascript to watch this video
WEST HARTFORD - I-84 westbound has reopened at exit 40 following a motor vehicle accident Friday evening.
The closure happened around 6:50 p.m. State police said it was a multi-vehicle accident and several occupants were taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
The highway was closed for several hours causing a major traffic backup. The highway was reopened about 2 a.m. |
Lorraine Explains: Why seating position is important | Something often overlooked by drivers is the way they sit in their car seat. It’s also one of the most important aspects when it comes to driving.
Your position in relation to the steering wheel and pedals isn’t just for comfort, it’s also a matter of car control and safety. There are various factors in play here, including keeping your hands on the wheel in turns, having clear lines of sight around the car, being able to brake fully in an emergency and even staying a safe distance from the airbag in the steering wheel, in case it goes off.
This week, Lorraine Sommerfeld goes through what you need to know to find the proper seating position in your car. Who knows, you might even be more comfortable as well. |
Two men arrested for shooting Sikeston | Two suspects have been arrested in connection to a shooting that happened in Scott County yesterday.
Sikeston native Ronald Langley turned himself in yesterday afternoon.
Fellow Sikeston native Dylan Nobles was still on the loose, but was arrested last night.
The two men are accused in connection to the shooting Matthew Williams of Sikeston early yesterday morning.
Williams said received his injuries while at a home in Scott County.
He had to be taken from a local hospital to St. Louis, where he is in stable but serious condition.
Police arrested Nobles while he was driving the shooting victim’s Silver 2013 Dodge Journey, in which he and Langley had originally driven away from the crime scene.
If you have any information, you’re asked call police at 573-545-3525. |
Walkie-talkie case PIL against DGP dismissed | CHENNAI: A PIL seeking action against Director-General of Police TK Rajendran for alleged irregularities in the purchase of walkie-talkie sets for police, was dismissed by the first bench of the Madras High Court on Friday. “We are unable to appreciate how a social worker, who claims to be a post-graduate with no kind of technical education can possibly acknowledge which kind of walkie-talkie is easier to operate, more suitable and whether the price of `47,650 is fair or not. Significantly, there is no reference to any other comparative price,” a bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose observed.
In his PIL, R Senthil Murugan, a social worker of Madurai and a post-graduate in history, sought to take action against the DGP for alleged irregularities in the purchase of walkie-talkies. He said the Home secretary Niranjan Mardi, in his letter to the DGP, had raised a set of 11 queries in connection with the tender notification issued for walkie-talkie purchase. He also referred to the tender granted to Motorola Solutions for `83.45 crores.
The petitioner submitted that as per the APCO scheme, 10,000 sets have to be procured and the sum allotted for the purchase of the same by the government was only `47.56 crores for 2017-18. But Motorola, which quoted a higher sum of `83.45 crore, was allotted the tender. Dismissing the plea, the bench said there can be no doubt that citizens have a right to prevent wastage of public money and to ensure that the money of tax-payers is properly spent. However, vague allegations based on hearsay, cannot be entertained, it said. |
EMIR HAPPY WITH FOOD AID TO BOKO HARAM VICTIMS | The Emir of Biu, Alhaji Mai Umar Mustapha has commended the Federal Government for its Food Intervention Programme of 36,000 metric tonnes to victims of insurgency in his domain because the gesture is timely and will alleviate the hardship of the victims.
He stated this when the Deputy Governor of Borno state, Hon. Usman Durkwa paid him a courtesy call after flagging off the distribution of the relief items in Buratai town and surrounding villages of Kimba, Gur, Miringa and some Internally Displaced Persons Camps.
The Emir who is the only Traditional Ruler that did not run away from his domain during the hit of the boko haram crisis, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, His Vice, Acting President Yemi Osibanjo, Borno state government, security agencies and other humanitarian partners in managing the plights of victims of the crisis.
He urged all his people to continue to pray for the quick recovery of President Buhari and the restoration of peace in the country.
Earlier the Deputy Governor had said that the distribution of the relief items would be conducted based on households adding that
Hawul, Bayo, Kwaya Kusar Local hovern,ent ares also benefitted from the distribution.
The items donated include bags of Rice, Beans, Masavita, Semovita, Macroni and conduments. |
Washington state should embrace freight rail | The Swinomish Draw Bridge turned sideways in Anacortes, Washngton. Credit: Flickr user RVwithtito
A recent recommendation from the Washington state energy council to reject the expansion of Port of Vancouver speaks to a profound anti-business mentality by a vocal minority who continue to jeopardize not just the presence of freight rail in the state, but the businesses that depend on it.
This, despite the fact that railroads constitute an environmentally friendly, private industry — which, unlike other modes of transportation, pays for its own infrastructure — that reduces carbon emissions by 75 percent compared to trucks and lessens traffic congestion and road deterioration.
Rather than hinder the ability of freight railroads to serve the regional and U.S. economies, the public and their elected leaders alike should embrace them.
Consider first some basic facts, which speak to the vast benefits of freight railroads.
Freight railroads directly employ more than 165,000 people in the U.S. and nearly 4,000 in Washington state. Recent analysis shows the sector supports 342,000 jobs in the state.
The industry has invested $26 billion in private funds in its 140,000-mile network in recent years (Washington state is home to roughly 3,000 miles), which generates $274 billion in economic output, $33 billion in federal and state taxes and 1.5 million jobs nationally.
Large portions of these investments have been spent to modernize equipment, maintain infrastructure and develop innovative technology — all of which have a profound impact on safety. U.S. railroads had the lowest train accident rate on record in 2016, according to data from the Federal Railroad Administration. Since 2000, train-accident and derailment rates are both down 44 percent, while track-caused accidents have dipped 53 percent. Impressively, 99.99 percent of all hazardous materials reach their destination without incident.
Now consider opposition to the industry and some of its customers.
In the case of the Vancouver project — which would be served by freight railroads — the state energy council recommended that Gov. Jay Inslee reject a permit for port expansion, which would involve a higher volume of crude oil shipments to be used in Washington and California refineries. Yet the port serves a host of commodities important to the state economy and would employ, collectively, more than 600 workers in the region.
The situation is not dissimilar to a recent decision by the Department of Ecology to deny a critical permit to construct a bulk-commodity terminal in Longview. The state Department of Ecology abruptly denied Millennium, the project developer, its water-quality permit based on multiple conditions — none of which had anything to do with water quality. This occurred in the wake of five years’ worth of extensive county, state and federal regulatory reviews that included hundreds of hours of public testimony and thousands of written comments. Ecology’s short-circuiting of the regulatory process suggests this project was never given fair consideration by the state to begin with.
To the east, in Spokane, local activists undertook unprecedented steps this year to ban the transportation of fossil fuels by rail through the region. Their ballot measure, which failed on Election Day, would have subjected railcar owners transporting oil and coal to a $261 per-car fine — a penalty that would reach in the thousands of dollars daily for each train going through the city. Such a fine would have effectively banned the transportation of fossil fuels through the city, which is a major hub for shipping commodities to the West Coast. Interestingly, the measure included no additional safety measures.
These examples continue a streak of not-in-my-backyard activists succeeding in blocking or slowing necessary projects from coming online. Ironic, given the other option — moving more goods via less environmentally friendly trucks subsidized by taxpayers — but no less predictable.
Washington state continues to grow rapidly, led in part by the information economy. Freight railroads want to be a healthy part of this — helping meet future freight demands — and need the support of state stakeholders. |
9-year-old hit by car while riding bike in South Nashville | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A 9-year-old child was taken to the hospital after being hit by a car Friday morning in South Nashville.
It happened around 11 a.m. in the 2900 block of Anderson Road.
Metro police on the scene said the child was not wearing a helmet at the time.
The child was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment.
Additional information was not released. |
Wisconsin GOP at odds over how to fund road improvements | This Sept. 23, 2016 frame grab from video provided by the office of Wisconsin state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos shows Vos, right, and his cousin Mike Vos, a volunteer with the Burlington Rescue Squad, sitting in the back of an ambulance in Burlington, Wis.
Start the conversation, or Read more at The Janesville Gazette. |
Fatal crash trike rider had taken illegal drugs | The judgement of a motorcyclist killed in a Lakenheath crash may have been affected by illegal drugs, an inquest has heard.
Malcolm Lawless, 58, was fatally injured when his Suzuki motor-tricycle was in head-on collision with a BMW car on Eriswell Road on July 30.
An inquest today at Suffolk Coroners Court, Ipswich, heard Mr Lawless, of The Street, Eriswell, died less than an hour and a half after arriving at the West Suffolk Hospital.
Toxicology tests by Imperial College, London, revealed cannabis and cocaine in his body .
Ryan Lawless told the inquest he spent the day of the crash with his father, who had ridden motorcycles for 42 years, and during that time he took no substances. He said his father would not have ridden his bike if he had felt under the influence.
In a statement, BMW driver Toby St Julian, who was returning home to Mundford with his wife, said as he went into a bend, at about 40mph, he saw another vehicle approaching, then realised it was on his side of the road.
On impact, the trike rider was thrown against the car windscreen.
A post mortem showed Mr Lawless died as a result of severe multiple head and chest injuries.
Forensic collision investigator Pc Andrew Fossey said a skid mark indicated one of the brakes on the trike had locked up immediately before the impact, which suggested Mr Lawless had braked hard as he began to negotiate the bend.
Pc Fossey said he believed the most likely cause of the crash had been Mr Lawless entering the bend at what he perceived to be too fast, although no evidence had been found of speeding by either driver.
“In the absence of any other evidence, it is my opinion that his judgement may have been affected by the use of illegal drugs” said Pc Fossey.
Suffolk area coroner Nigel Parsely said: “We will never know what caused Malcolm to brake so violently, causing his vehicle to travel from his carriageway into the path of the BMW.”
Mr Parsley recorded a conclusion Mr Lawless died as the result of a road collision. |
Here's What Musk, Gates, Hawking And Chomsky Have To Say About Climate Change | Every year, we are confronted with new facts and scenarios emerging out of climate change and global warming, each more terrifying and apocalyptic than the last. In fact, several well-known scientists and tech moguls have made predictions regarding them.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Yahoo!. |
कमाडों सुरक्षा के बीच हुई गैंगस्टरों की पेशी | Read the latest and breaking news on amarujala.com. Get live Hindi news about India and the World from politics, sports, bollywood, business, cities, lifestyle, astrology, spirituality, jobs and much more. Register with amarujala.com to get all the latest Hindi news updates as they happen. |
Two in Lamu boat mishap found alive | By KALUME KAZUNGU
More by this Author
The ODM candidate for Lamu East Constituency seat in the just-concluded General Election Mr Shekue Kahale who was reported missing together with 11 other people after the boat they were travelling went missing has been found alive.
Mr Kahale was found in Majunguni in Shanga Island on Monday morning, though he looked very weak.
According to Mr Awadh Ali who is in charge of the Shanga Beach Management Unit (BMU), Mr Kahale was found walking with his life jacket on at around 7am.
Mr Awadh also said the captain of the boat, Mohamed Shamti, was also found alive at Bori near Mtangawanda Jetty in Lamu East.
WEAK
“We have found Mr Kahale walking at Majunguni. We have already taken him to the nearby hospital. We found him wearing [his] life jacket but very week. He couldn’t even speak.
“The captain of the boat has also been found at Bori near Mtangawanda. He is fine”, Mr Awadh said.
Related Content Boat carrying 12 disappears in ocean
BODIES FOUND
At the same time, three bodies including that of a baby have been recovered following the boat tragedy.
The body of a woman believed to be among the 12 passengers on a boat was recovered Monday morning.
Lamu’s Linda Boni Operation Director Mr Joseph Kanyiri said the body was recovered a few minutes to 8am.
“One body [of a woman] has been recovered a while ago. We suspect the boat capsized due to sea turbulence around Manda Bruno. Search and rescue teams are out there. More details later,” said Mr Kanyiri.
RECOVERED
But locals who talked to Nation on Monday said two bodies were recovered in Manda Bruno.
“Two bodies have also been found near Manda Bruno. I suspect the number of fatalities might arise since many passengers of the boat are still unknown,” said Mr Awadh.
The boat was carrying Mr Kahale and other ten family members and its captain.
It went missing in the Indian Ocean shortly after leaving Kizingitini Village on Sunday.
It was last spotted at Mtangawanda Jetty at around 10am before then later reported missing. |
The Killers Cover The Smiths, Brandon Flowers Tells Photog He Won’t Kick Him In The Face At KROQ Christmas | Morrissey was scheduled to headline the second night of KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas show this past weekend. But surprising absolutely nobody, Morrissey pulled out of the show a day before it was set to happen. The Killers, who did play last night’s show, had an icy little subtweet for Morrissey. During their set, the band covered “This Charming Man,” the classic from Morrissey’s old band the Smiths. Here’s a fan-made video of that performance:
The Killers covering “This Charming Man” by The Smiths, considering Morrissey cancelled this Acoustic Christmas. pic.twitter.com/G833Ji99OD — r[Y]an (@rubix_ryan) December 11, 2017
During the show, frontman Brandon Flowers also made an implicit comment about another of the weekend’s stories. During the previous night of the KROQ Christmas show, Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme kicked photographer Chelsea Lauren in the face. While the Killers were playing, Flowers pulled Killers photographer Rob Loud out of the photo pit and onto the stage, telling him, “I’m not gonna kick you in the face. Just come on up here. I just want to tell you to tell all your friends that you’re welcome here, and that any Killers concert, you’re safe and you’re respected.” He then dedicated a song to the photographers at the show, saying, “They make us look good. We need to take care of these people.” Here’s the video: |
Wozniacki falls to Kasatkina in St. Petersburg quarters | Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
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PARIS (AP) Kristina Mladenovic, Pauline Parmentier and Amandine Hesse were named in France’s Fed Cup team on Wednesday for the first-round match against Belgium.
Seventh-ranked Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet will not take part in the Feb. 10-11 series, however.
Garcia is France’s best-ranked player but still does not want to return to play for the national team as she prioritizes her singles career. She recently reached the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Cornet, ranked 38th, is under investigation by the International Tennis Federation after missing three out-of-competition doping tests in the past year.
The 10th-ranked Mladenovic will play singles along with 31-year-old Parmentier, who is ranked 91st. Clara Burel is a reserve.
Pierre Cherret, the French Tennis Federation’s interim technical director, said it is “enormously frustrating” not to have Garcia in the team.
“She does not feel ready to come back into the France team. She’s focused on her career, which is what she already told us last year,” Cherret said. “Her singles career is her priority. She’s asking for time and to be left alone so she can work quietly in her corner.”
The best-of-five series will be held at the 5,000-seat Vendespace sports complex in Mouilleron-le-Captif, located in the Vendee region of west-central France.
France, which lost 4-1 to Switzerland in last year’s quarterfinals, won the Fed Cup in 1997 and 2003.
Since then, France has lost three times in the final, most recently in 2016 when Garcia was playing. |
Heart and Soul mosaic dedication at St. Vincent Heart Center | None
Artist Yael Buxbaum speaks during the dedication ceremony for Heart & Soul, a mosaic created with the help of public in the U.S. and Israel, Feb. 14, 2017. Buxbaum and her cousin Joann Rothenberd conceived of the project, which was created with the help of the public in the U.S. and Israel. Four of the panels hang in the St. Vincent Heart Center, while four more will be on display at the Galilee Medical Center in Israel. Michelle Pemberton/Indy Star |
Flames shoot up Sydney CBD high-rise | Scaffolding covering a high-rise construction site in the heart of Sydney has caught fire, with dramatic footage showing flames and smoke shooting up the building.
The fire started at the northern end of the Macquarie Street building, near Hyde Park, about 7.50am on Thursday, with fire crews racing to the scene and closing the street.
About 20 people were safely evacuated, a Fire & Rescue spokesman told AAP.
City workers have described the dramatic scenes and the speed at which the flames covered the building.
"The flames were going up the scaffolding. I think there was straw in scaffolding to catch dust which just went up in flames," Patrick Toohey, who works in a nearby building told AAP.
"You could see balls of hay catching on fire - it was a bit like Grenfell tower going up," he said, referencing the London tragedy.
Footage from the Nine Network shows flames quickly rising up the 11-storey building, sending a plume of black smoke into the sky.
Thirteen fire crews and 70 firefighters are on the scene.
"The fire has been confined to the external scaffold; it hasn't penetrated the internal structure," a Fire & Rescue spokesman told AAP.
"The fire is under control but not completely extinguished."
The building is thought to be an older and well-established building that was undergoing a renovation, a Fire & Rescue spokesman told ABC.
NSW Police said there have been no reported injuries.
Macquarie Street remains closed. |
How Betsy DeVos Could Break Up The Charter School Coalition | Education Secretary Betsy DeVos made a bold choice for her opening anecdote in a speech to charter school advocates on Tuesday: she told the story of how her family chose to forego the public education system entirely, sending their young son to a private Christian school.
DeVos spoke of the need to ensure that poor students had the ability to attend not just charter schools, but private schools, too, just as her son had done. It was a heavy allusion to the necessity of a voucher system — one that would allow families to use taxpayer money to pay for private and religious schools.
But vouchers have long been considered politically toxic to many in the charter school movement, who are already wondering how closely their schools — attended primarily by low-income, black or Latino students — should link their fortune to that of the Trump administration.
“Charter schools are here to stay,” DeVos told the crowd Tuesday. “But we must recognize that charters aren’t the right fit for every child. For many children, neither a traditional nor a charter public school works for them.”
When DeVos singled out a charter for praise, she praised a private school in the next breath, singling out several "Christian schools," including one that operated, mostly tuition-free, in a homeless shelter.
The remarks were received with limited enthusiasm, even among what should have been one of the friendliest crowds the controversial DeVos will address — a group of teachers, administrators and advocates who have embraced school choice as a solution to inequality. Less than half the audience stood to applaud as she finished, and many others remained silent.
“I was surprised at the reaction she got here, honestly,” said one conference attendee, a charter operator who said he was a strong supporter of DeVos. “This is one of the best places that she could be: a very friendly crowd full of school choice advocates. I was a little stunned that there wasn’t bigger support for her.”
“Maybe it was because it was so early in the morning,” he added. “People haven’t had their coffee.”
DeVos is the most ardent supporter of school choice who has ever served as education secretary, advocating policies that elevate parents’ ability to choose their child's school above all other considerations. In a Trump budget that slashed billions from every other corner of education funding, DeVos’s department carved out $1 billion to expand school choice nationwide.
But by advocating for public money to flow to private and religious schools alongside charters, DeVos has unsettled leaders in the charter school movement, who have forged an rare bipartisan consensus in recent years. Despite opposition from teacher’s unions, many Democrats have willingly crossed the aisle to align with Republicans on policies that allow charters to grow and experiment. But many school choice advocates, including some moderate Republicans, see vouchers as a step too far.
“High quality charter schools have gotten lumped into this broad brush that’s been painted with vouchers, and with tax credit scholarships,” said Kelly McManus, the director of government affairs at the pro-charter Education Trust. “That’s not accurate and not fair to them.”
In her speech to charter leaders, DeVos did not expressly advocate expanding vouchers to pay for private schools. But she pointedly placed charter schools and their students alongside private religious ones, and said that low-income students should be given a chance to attend both.
“I suggest we focus less on what word comes before ‘school,’ whether it be traditional, charter, virtual, magnet, home, parochial, private, or any approach yet to be developed,” DeVos said, “and focus instead on the individuals they are intended to serve.”
"I wish she would just come out and say what we're all worried about — that she's expanding vouchers," said one conference attendee, a charter school educator, after DeVos's speech. "We need to know what she's really going to do so we can figure out what these vouchers to our kids."
Beyond vouchers, the toxicity of the Trump administration itself is fueling anxiety among charter leaders. Because they work extensively with black, Latino, and low-income students, many left-leaning charter advocates say they have been pushed to become increasingly partisan — distancing themselves from the Trump administration to satiate their progressive allies, but potentially alienating Republican supporters in the process.
“Those of us in the broad, big tent of the education reform world were on the cusp of making big gains with voters,” said Nick Melvoin, a pro-charter Democrat who won a seat on the school board of the Los Angeles Unified School District in May. DeVos and Trump’s school choice policies, he said, “unfortunately complicate the situation. There’s been somewhat of a loss of that bipartisan consensus.”
Conference attendees also worried that DeVos seemed to downplay another key issue among many left-leaning charter advocates: the need to stringently to hold charters accountable for their results. In her speech, DeVos criticized some in the charter movement for “boxing out” certain types of charters in favor of others.
In her home state of Michigan, where DeVos first set out a school choice agenda, critics say a lack of accountability caused an explosion of low-quality schools, including many for-profits. Elsewhere, online charter schools, most run by for-profit companies, have been denounced across the political spectrum for their poor performance, and a study released this week show that students at other for-profit providers also perform worse on math tests than at nonprofits.
“Accountability is so important, and she didn’t seem to mention that at all,” said one conference attendee, a charter school educator who asked not to be named. “Students need to actually be learning something, to be proficient.”
An audience-submitted question asked DeVos how she would ensure low-performing schools would be held accountable, and she responded by emphasizing the need for parents to be able to choose between schools — for DeVos, essentially a catchall solution to the troubled education system. “It’s not choice for choice’s sake,” she said. “It’s choice because parents are demanding something different for their children.”
Policies that alienate the charter school movement could ultimately hurt DeVos as she pushes her broader school choice agenda, said Andrew Saultz, an assistant professor of education at Miami University. “It’s going to put her in a difficult situation, because she’s trying to hold together a coalition where some people really question those things.”
“When you think about the coalition that was built around charters in the ’90s and 2000s, particularly with Latino and black communities, I wonder the degree to which that coalition will survive” he said.
“The movement has had many of these tensions for a long period of time,” said Shavar Jeffries, the the president of Democrats for Education Reform, a pro-charter nonprofit that has taken a strong stance against much of Trump’s education agenda. “The unvarnished bigotry and the reactionary policies of the Trump administration have caused these tensions — which used to be below the surface — to boil over.”
But whether the rift among school choice advocates will actually affect policy, however, remains to be seen.
“Right now it’s a whole lot of D.C. buzz,” said Michael Petrilli, the president of the Thomas B. Fordham institute, a right-leaning education think tank. “Their embrace of private school choice could make the issue less popular among the electorate — as with anything he embraces, there’s a risk that there could be some loss of support — but on the state level, it’s hard to find a direct impact.”
Charter schools could ultimately benefit, Petrilli said, by presenting themselves as a political compromise between DeVos’s voucher proposals and more hardline opponents of school choice.
Still, he said, the administration’s embrace of school choice could be a political risk for charters, just as Barack Obama’s support for the once-bipartisan Common Core — which even Betsy DeVos once supported — made the issue a pariah among Republicans.
“They have to be careful not to let what happened to the Common Core under Obama become charter schools under Trump,” Petrilli said.
An early test for left-leaning charter advocates played out last month in Los Angeles Unified School District, where a slate of candidates who pushed for charter school expansion were targeted by teachers’ unions that sought to portray them as allied with Trump and DeVos. A union-funded mailer painted Melvoin, a Democratic charter advocate, as one of the “candidates who will implement the Trump/DeVos education agenda in LA.”
Melvoin won the election, but only, he says, by making it expressly clear that he opposed DeVos policies like vouchers and for-profit charters, which he called to ban in the district. “We had to come out so strongly against the administration,” Melvoin said.
Though he worked in the Obama administration, Melvoin said, “Putting my face with Trump and DeVos was so toxic. The association really seeped in with some voters.” |
Ranbir Kapoor wants to buy a house in New York, Lonavala | What does a Bollywood star aspire for? More fame? More money? Bigger box office hits? Turns out, Ranbir Kapoor wants none of those. When GQ India spoke to him as part of an exclusive interview, we discovered that the actor’s bucket list isn’t very different from, say, your own. He wants to skydive, he wants a weekend home near Mumbai and his two dogs are at the top of his mind (and list).
When we sat him down for an exclusive interview for our June issue, Ranbir Kapoor revealed his bucket list to us.
“Skydiving. Winning a cup for Mumbai FC [the ISL football team that he co-owns]. Buying a house in New York, and spending some time there. Building a weekend home in Pavna. Mating my two dogs,” Kapoor told GQ India, “They’re mastiffs, so it’s really hard to find girls.”
Ranbir Kapoor also opened up about his addictions, the books he’s reading, the benefits of ‘isolating’ himself from society… and Alia Bhatt. For the full interview, click here!
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Sale of Greenwood pharmaceutical supplier highlights S.C.'s growing life scie... | Read more: Post and Courier
A Capsugel worker in Europe sorts through capsules made by the company. The firm's largest U.S. operations are in Greenwood.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Post and Courier. |
Border Patrol agent opens fire on armed suspects who robbed Laredo maquinita | A Laredo police unit is shown outside a home in the 3000 block of Robert Frost on Friday afternoon. Authorities said they executed a search warrant at the home in connection with an illegal gambling investigation. The property is owned by Joel Lopez, head coach of the Alexander High School football team. |
Avengers: Infinity War reveals new villain | A Marvel fan has spotted a new villain joining Thanos and the Black Order in Avengers: Infinity War. |
Meghan Markle's British royal family allowance taxed in US | Becoming a royal doesn't make you tax exempt. Ben Birchall - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Meghan Markle will soon become a member of the British royal family, which commands a fortune over $500 million.
Markle will remain a US citizen for at least five years and will still have to pay taxes to the IRS on any income earned.
If Markle accepts an allowance or other form of "income" in the UK exceeding $104,100, she will have to pay US taxes on that money.
Meghan Markle will soon become the newest member of the British royal family, which commands a fortune over $500 million. But romping in their riches may cost her extra.
Markle is a citizen of the United States and is purportedly living in the UK on a family visa, according to the BBC. As the fiancée of a British citizen — Prince Harry — Markle will have to marry within six months of obtaining the visa to maintain her status.
Markle's family visa will be effective in 2.5-year increments and she won't be granted permanent residency until she's lived in the UK for five years. After that, she can finally apply for UK citizenship and potentially become a dual citizen of the US and the UK.
All the while, the "Suits" actress will be paying taxes to the IRS on any income she makes — regardless of where she earns it.
"US citizens, green card holders, and permanent residents are required to file tax returns with the IRS every year no matter where they reside," Avani Ramnani, director of financial planning and wealth management at Francis Financial, told Business Insider.
"This is a special tax return called the expatriate tax return," she said. "US citizens, including Meghan Markle, get taxed on international income earned outside the US."
But Markle may qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion, Ramnani said, which in 2018 waives taxes on the first $104,100 of income earned in the residing country. But that doesn't include income from investments.
Prince Harry receives an annual $450,000 allowance from Princess Diana's estate. AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Since the age of 21, Prince Harry and Prince William have been receiving a $450,000 a year investment profit from their late mother's estate, which they pay taxes on to the UK government. They, and Kate Middleton, also receive an annual seven-figure allowance from their father, Prince Charles, which is used to cover expenses like travel and wardrobe.
"The key for Meghan and her advisors would be to figure out what type of income she will be getting," Ramnani said. "Will this income be from the investments of a trust, or 'wages' for any work that she does, or any other type of income? Sometimes, getting one form of income is more advantageous than another."
Markle may also qualify for a foreign tax credit, which allows tax on any income exceeding $104,100 to be reduced depending on the amount of taxes paid in the expat's country of residence. But, Ramnani said, "this credit may not be dollar-for-dollar as there are a lot of factors that come into play."
There's another US tax provision called the foreign housing exclusion, which gives the taxpayer an additional deduction or credit for living expenses abroad. It does not include "expenses that are lavish or extravagant under the circumstances."
Nottingham Cottage, the future homestead of Markle and Prince Harry, is located on the sprawling grounds of Kensington Palace, and would probably be considered lavish.
As the Washington Post first reported back in November, Markle could "cause tax headaches" and create some "mundane hurdles" for the royal family.
If she becomes a dual US/UK citizen, Markle will have to continue filing her taxes each year with the IRS. If she has more than $300,000 in assets at any point during the year, she will have to file a specific form that details foreign assets, which could include foreign trusts, subjecting the royal family "to outside scrutiny," according to the Post. |
Soccer-Disputed Griezmann penalty gives Atletico edge over Leicester | MADRID, April 12 Antoine Griezmann’s disputed first-half penalty gave Atletico Madrid a slender 1-0 victory over Leicester City in their Champions League quarter final first-leg clash at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.
The France striker was fouled by Leicester's Marc Albrighton on the edge of the box and referee Jonas Eriksson deemed the action to have continued into the penalty area.
Griezmann sent Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way from the spot after 28 minutes for his 24th goal of the season, while Fernando Torres missed a good chance to double the hosts’ lead after the break.
The result left the tie in the balance ahead of the second leg in England on April 18, as Leicester bid to maintain a fairytale run in their first season in Europe's elite club competition. (Editing by Toby Davis) |
iPhone 8 Home Button Will Be Resizable, Reveals HomePod Firmware | The HomePod firmware that was released two weeks ago continues to reveal exciting details about the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL ) iPhone 8. It’s difficult to say whether Apple included the iPhone 8 details in the firmware deliberately or accidentally. Either way, the HomePod firmware has intensified the hype around the 10th anniversary iPhone. Noted iOS developers Steve Troughton-Smith and Guilherme Rambo have unearthed new details, including the fact that the iPhone 8 home button will be resizable.
iPhone 8 home button will resize as needed
The 10th anniversary iPhone will not have a physical home button. There will be a virtual home button at the bottom of the display. Steve Troughton-Smith has found evidence within the HomePod code that the iPhone 8 home button would automatically resize within a “periphery area.” The periphery area will show/hide and expand/minimize the home button indicator “as needed.”
We know some facts re iPhone 8 home button area: • it resizes
• indicator can be hidden
• no API to change color
• tab bars extend under it — Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) August 10, 2017
Troughton-Smith added that the iPhone 8 home button would have a static color to make it distinguishable. The virtual home button will disappear automatically when using certain apps such as watching videos on YouTube and Netflix.
Noted Apple expert John Gruber tried to imagine what the resizable home button would look like. He believes it will be a circular home button that would turn into a pill shape when necessary. Gruber’s mockup is based on an iPhone 8 render created by Max Rudberg a few days ago.
This is my guess: pic.twitter.com/wEtIRxRxPe — John Gruber (@gruber) August 9, 2017
However, as Mashable points out, the pill-shaped home button is not something that Apple would choose. It looks like the home button on an Android smartphone.
Pearl ID to support multiple face functionality
Guilherme Rambo has previously revealed that the iPhone 8 infrared sensor will be tracking your face at all times. It will detect whether you are looking at the phone, and if yes, it will automatically mute the notifications. The Pearl ID face detection will also allow users to make payments via Apple Pay. The technology can also be integrated with non-Apple services.
Now developers have found evidence that Pearl ID will support multiple face functionality. It means more than one user will be able to authenticate Apple Pay transactions by storing multiple faces. A reference to “multi biometrics” in the HomePod firmware signals that Pearl ID would not completely replace the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
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Attacked by Naxalites, constable snatches pistol from them | A constable snatched a pistol from Naxalites in Dantewada district (Representational Image) A constable snatched a pistol from Naxalites in Dantewada district (Representational Image)
A security personnel snatched a firearm from one of five Naxalites who attacked him in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district and fired at the ultras, forcing them to flee, the police have said. According to a police official, constable Bhimaram Kunjam had gone to Hitwar village in Kuakonda yesterday to collect some information, when five Naxalites, masquerading as villagers, attacked him.
Undaunted, Kunjam snatched the pistol and fired at them, forcing them to retreat, the official said, adding, the pistol belonged to a sub-inspector who was killed in a Naxal attack in Kuakonda on February 28, 2014.
Superintendent of Police Kamalochan Kashyap has announced an award of Rs 10,000 for Kunjam, the police official said.
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Defense stocks tumble as market sells off | Top defense companies' shares declined Tuesday, erasing earlier gains, amid a broader market sell-off.
The S&P 500 Aerospace & Defense index, comprised of 13 manufacturers, closed down more than 3 percent.
The declines came while President Donald Trump discussed fraught international issues with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, such as the Iran nuclear deal, which faces a key deadline next month.
Trump also praised North Korea dictator Kim Jong Un as "honorable" and "open" as the two leaders pursue an unprecedented summit in May or June. Trump is seeking denuclearization of the hermit regime. The two delegations also discussed the recent strike on Syrian chemical facilities.
Individually, Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon's top weapons supplier, beat analysts' earnings expectations earlier in the day but closed down more than 6 percent at $336.49. Shares of Raytheon, meanwhile, hit an all-time high earlier Tuesday, but closed down more than 4 percent at $218.80.
"I would say that it is more market-oriented and maybe a little bit of industry weakness," Peter Arment, an aerospace and defense industry analyst at Baird, told CNBC. "We are not seeing anything in the earnings reports that warrants this kind of weakness."
Baird has assigned outperform ratings on Lockheed and Raytheon. The firm's price target for Lockheed was $410 a share as of Jan. 30, and $237 for Raytheon as of Jan. 26.
Boeing, the world's largest plane manufacturer, tumbled nearly 4 percent putting the defense giant well on the way to its worst day since April 6, when the company lost 3.06 percent.
Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman fell more than 3 percent while General Dynamics slipped 1.7 percent.
Arment said he expects positive earnings reports from Boeing, Raytheon and Northrop this week.
General Dynamics is also scheduled to report quarterly earnings later this week. |
2018 Cencus: Politicians Will Manipulate Figures If It Is Conducted - Dogara | The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, warned on Monday that figures could be manipulated if a population census was conducted by Nigeria in 2018.
He stated that political interests would determine the outcome of the results, rather than the actual figures.
The speaker argued that 2018 was too close to 2019, an election year, a reason he feared that politicians could hijack the exercise to their personal advantage.
He gave his opinion to counter the clamour by some groups for the census to be conducted in 2018.
Dogara, whose views were conveyed in a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, suggested instead that the census should be conducted in 2017, two years to the general elections.
Part of the statement read, “I won’t advise anyone to conduct national census in 2018. I said it before that if we are not going to achieve it in 2017, then we should just forget it until after 2019.
“If you conduct census at the niche of elections, there will be so much pressure, crises and the lure for people to manipulate the figures for political reasons, such that the agency cannot even cope with.
“So, it is better for a fresh administration to conduct this exercise from the beginning of that administration when we do not have any pressure of elections in sight.
“Then we may have something that resembles reality, but I can bet you if the census is conducted in 2018, the outcome will be doubtable.
“Seriously speaking, because I know who we are and I know the kind of litigation, backlash, the pressure and we don’t need that now to be candid.
“We have so many challenges, let’s empower the agencies to keep building on the blocks that they will leverage on in the future in order to do the exercise but doing it in 2018, honestly it is nothing I would advocate.” |
Prisoner hospitalized after shooting himself at Curry County Detention Center | Police say 28-year-old Wesley Flores pulled out a gun and shot himself in the jaw after four hours of unsuccessful negotiations. He's since been sent to a hospital in Lubbock.
Authorities say Flores was originally taken into custody on a warrant for failing to show up to a scheduled court appearance. |
Peter Moore questions Pies game plan and says Nathan Buckley needs to fix issues | COLLINGWOOD great Peter Moore says his son Darcy’s likely shift to defence might benefit him given the difficulty of being a forward at the Pies.
Earlier this year David Cloke lashed Nathan Buckley’s game plan , saying son Travis had been a “scapegoat” following his trade to the Western Bulldogs, and now another famous father had his say on the Pies.
Moore wasn’t as critical of Buckley as Cloke Snr has been — saying he trusted the coach to make the call on what was best for the Pies — but did say Buckley needed to find answers.
JACK CRISP: ‘FRUSTRATED’ PIES NEED TO MOVE
SUPERCOACH: THE FORGOTTEN MEN
“One of the problems at Collingwood is the way they play. Their chosen game style is generally it’s a five-man forward line playing on seven defenders, so it’s very difficult for forwards to kick a lot of goals and to get a lot of opportunities,” Peter Moore told SEN.
“The other issue is their entries into the forward half were absolutely hopeless in the first half of last year. They’re working hard to improve that and try and get better delivery and also move the ball a bit quicker.
“When you add all that up, forward line is not the best spot you can be at Collingwood and Collingwood forwards don’t tend to kick a lot of goals.”
Camera Icon Darcy Moore is training as a defender. Pic: Michael Klein Picture: News Corp Australia
Camera Icon Peter Moore won a Brownlow Medal at the Pies. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Picture: News Corp Australia
Asked where he believed Darcy should play — the Pies have said the 21-year-old would likely move to the backline in 2018 — Moore backed Buckley on what was best for the team.
He said he believed his son’s versatility would allow him to play in the ruck or even on a wing in addition to key forward or defensive posts.
“He’s clearly a good forward, a natural forward,” Moore said of his son.
“The problem at Collingwood is he can’t get the ball enough in the forward line, you know they have trouble getting the ball to him.
“I think the thinking is to try to get him in the play more because he’s pretty effective when he’s got the ball.
“The feeling is if they can sort a forward line out that works then they’d like to play him a bit more behind the ball. But I think he’ll play both forward and back. I think they can’t make an arbitrary call on it.
Camera Icon Will Ben Reid play forward with talk Darcy Moore moving to defence? Picture: Wayne Ludbey Picture: News Corp Australia
“I’d like to see him play forward, and then when they need him to, he could go back ... it’s probably a case of where he can serve the team best, and the coach has probably got to make that call.”
Buckley was handed a two-year contract extension after Collingwood missed the finals for a fourth straight year. Moore Snr said he liked the Pies’ list and the coach now needed to push the club up the table.
“Bucks has been very well supported. Eddie’s very loyal to him and has really given him everything that he could possibly want — he’s got the coaches he wants, the players he wants — it is set up the way he wants it,” he said.
“Now the challenge for him is: can he convert and make that team competitive?
“A lot of people say its game plan issues and the way they go about it. I don’t know what it is, but whatever it is, doesn’t work, so he has to figure it out, and pretty quickly I would have thought.” |
First woman to officially run Boston Marathon finishes race again at 70 | Fifty years after becoming the first woman to officially finish the Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer has done it again.
"I'm exhilarated," she told ABC News after finishing the 26.2-mile race on Monday. "All the way along the route, people had heard my story, saw my bib, and they were holding signs up that read '261 Fearless' and 'Go, Kathrine!' They were screaming and going crazy. It was amazing, especially the little girls who were there with their moms. They were just jumping up and down."
Switzer, 70, crossed the finish line with an unofficial time of 4:44:31, just 24 minutes slower than her time as a 20-year-old. She said it has always been her dream to return to the streets of Boston after making history there in 1967.
"It's just an enormous sense of gratitude for the city of Boston, the streets of Boston, which changed my life and helped pave the way for what is nothing less than a social revolution in women's running," she said. "When I crossed the finish line — to celebrate 50 years of looking back and seeing the huge progress and changes that have been made — I can only say that I'm extremely grateful for the experience."
Switzer signed up for the 1967 Boston Marathon, which until that point was predominantly run by men, as K.V. Switzer. While women were not officially barred from the course, people did not believe women were capable of running such a distance. A woman previously ran the race without a bib number. Race officials did not know that Switzer was running until she entered the second mile of the race. That's when race official Jock Semple ran up behind her and tried to rip off her bib in order to disqualify her. She was able to break free of his grasp, and her boyfriend shoved him to the ground. She kept running, becoming a symbol of girl power in sports.
Switzer said she was thinking of Semple, who later became her friend, as she passed that spot in the race today. Semple died in 1988.
"I just blew him a big kiss. I said, 'There you go, Jock,'" she said. "This was the guy who, for better or worse, changed my life. As it turned out, it was for better. At the time, it was a terrible experience, but in the fullness of time, it was the best thing that ever happened to me."
Paul Connell/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Switzer donned her original bib number, 261, for the 2017 race. This time around, she was accompanied by 125 runners raising money for her charity, 261 Fearless, which helps empower women and girls through running. After she crossed the finish line, the Boston Athletic Association retired her bib number.
Having fought sexism when she ran Boston the first time, she said she already knows the next boundary she has to break through: ageism.
"People are saying about old people in sports what they used to say about women — 'You shouldn't push yourself, you're too weak, you're too fragile, you might break, don't push it,'" Switzer said. "I don't think there's any limit for aging, and I think this is the next new frontier."
After finishing the race, she said, she wanted a "cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate." She plans to celebrate with a Boston-brewed draft beer over dinner with her husband and friends tonight. She said she has no intention of making this her last marathon: She hopes to compete in the New York Marathon in the future.
Her goal is for her story to inspire women of all ages to be active, strong and confident in themselves, she said. For her, that strength was on display down to the smallest detail.
"I had a choice of what to wear today — capris or shorts. At 70, my legs are not gorgeous like they were when I was 28. And I said, 'I'm wearing the shorts,'" Switzer said. "I've got 70-year-old legs, and they deserve to look gnarly. But I don't care, because I just want to run and run well." |
Hamden budget passed but no tax rate set as state funding remains a question | HAMDEN >> Members of the Legislative Council were scheduled to begin budget negotiations next weekend on Mayor Curt Balzano Leng’s proposed 2017-18 budget, but those plans have been canceled after the council held a special meeting last week and passed the budget as presented.
But the council didn’t set the tax rate. Instead, it will submit amendments to Leng after the town learns whether it will receive the additional $10 million in state aid it has been promised.
Leng’s proposed 2017-18 budget is $222.3 million and carries a tax rate of 44.38 mills, one mill less than the current tax rate of 45.38 mills. It includes $78 million for the Board of Education, which is also slated to receive millions more in state aid.
Legislative Council President James Pascarella has been warning for weeks that this budget season will be like no other, and last week that became clear at the special meeting called to vote on the budget. “It was a procedural move,” Pascarella said. “We passed the budget as-is, and later we will debate and pass amendments to it and set the mill rate.”
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Without knowing whether it will receive the $10 million, it’s virtually impossible to debate the proposed budget, Pascarella said.
“The purpose of the council’s actions was procedural by nature and allowable by charter,” Pascarella said. “We passed the budget as presented with the full intent and understanding that we will be working with the administration and the Board of Education in order to craft budget amendments to be presented to council in spring upon learning what state revenues to Hamden will be.”
Once that’s done, the council will set the tax rate, Pascarella said.
“The objective is mutual amongst the mayor, the council and the Board of Education,” Pascarella said. “It is to send clear and direct message to Hartford that Hamden is working toward reducing taxes when Hartford delivers $10 (million) in additional revenue as promised by (the) governor. Essentially, at this moment in time, it can’t be understated that Hamden’s entire socio-economic future rests with the legislature in Hartford.”
“I voted to pass the mayor’s budget because it includes the one-mill rate decrease he promised in his address to the council,” said Republican Minority Leader Marjorie Bonadies, who represents the 9th District. “Last year the council as a whole spent over nine hours deliberating and were only able to negotiate $139,000 in savings. The amendment will still be debated by the entire council so no one will lose their voice in this process, that is important to note.”
No matter what happens, she wants to see at least the one-mill decrease included in the mayor’s proposal, Bonadies said.
“The onus is on the mayor to find additional savings if the $10.3 million from the state doesn’t materialize,” she said. “I would like to find a little more savings to bring home to Hamden taxpayers. So this process is far from over.”
Aside from the budget process, there are several union contracts currently under negotiation, and those results also will make an impact on the budget, Bonadies said.
“There are many contracts that are being negotiated currently, and I hope that Mayor Leng intends to hold the line to keep his promise to cut taxes,” she said. “The car tax is still up in the air but I suspect the state will allow municipalities to tax vehicles at the same rate as property is taxed. The plan to cap car taxes is yet another unfunded mandate from the state that they will have to renege on. If that happens we may be able to hang on to our tax cut.”
“With so much uncertainty at the state level right now, I understand why the Legislative Council would want to pass the budget without setting the mill rate, basically sending it back to the mayor and keeping it a work in progress,” said Board of Education Chairman Adam Sendroff. “I look forward to working with Mayor Leng and the council leadership to restore funding for Hamden Public Schools. And I urge our hardworking state delegation to work towards more equitable education funding for our municipalities.”
The council’s actions left some residents confused.
“I don’t understand how they can just pass the budget with no discussion on it,” said resident Cathy Seither. She has attended budget deliberations in the past, she said, and can’t see how the council can approve a budget from the mayor as-is.
“I hope they plan on making changes, because otherwise they will be just rubber stamping the mayor, and that’s not right,” she said.
Resident Jason Banks said he works with budgets in the private sector and knows how difficult they can be, especially when there are questionable revenues involved. “If they don’t know for sure what they will receive, I don’t see how they could have approved a budget,” he said. “It seems that the state has tied their hands with this.”
“I just hope they can cut taxes,” said Jane Morton, who said she has lived in Hamden for 20 years and has seen her taxes rise four-fold in that time. “I can’t afford to pay what I pay now, so I certainly don’t want to have to pay more.” |
HOT UPDATE! This Bollywood Actress To Join Salman Khan In Race 3? | If reports are to be believed then Salman Khan might be replacing Saif Ali Khan in Ramesh Taurani's Race 3. The actor who was last seen in Kabir Khan's Tubelight was supposed to kick-start Remo D'Souza's untitled dance film but that flick has been put on the backburner as of now.
Amidst these rumours, we hear that this B-town actress has been finalized as one of the leading ladies opposite Salman in Race 3. Find out who she is. |
David Carr on Eli Manning: He's the smartest guy in the room | Brian: Of course he want's to fire Mueller. It's for the same reason he fired Comey. That's why you have the usual suspects like Newt making the rounds today talking about how bad a person and how political Mueller is even though Mueller has made no statements and is a card carrying Republican. Just like Comey, also a Republican. Trump similarly had people throw potshots at Comey from the peanut gallery. If he fires Mueller too it's going to be the beginning of the end of his presidency. |
Vikings' Kyle Rudolph: Seen in walking boot | Rudolph left the locker room after Sunday's loss at Carolina in a walking boot, ESPN 1500 am Twin Cities reports.
Rudolph played the entire game Sunday and didn't appear to have suffered an injury. There are no specifics on his injury from this report. The boot may be precautionary, but his status is worth monitoring this week in practice. |
Recycle your bicycle for a good cause | Please enable Javascript to watch this video
RICHMOND, Va. - Recycle your old bicycle for a worthy cause, St. Christopher’s School is collecting bicycles to refurbish and give to area children as well as adults who need transportation to get to and from work. The Reverend Whitney Edwards, Chaplain at St. Christopher’s School, along with senior Levy Trent stopped by our studios to fill us in on the initiative. The Saints ‘Ride to Re-Entry’ Bike drive continues through Friday, April 21st. To learn more you can call 804-282-3185 or visit http://www.stchristophers.com
{THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY ST. CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOL} |
Eva Mendes lets her toddlers wear what they want | Eva Mendes lets her kids wear what they want.
The 'Ghost Rider' star - who has Esmeralda, three, and Amada, 22 months, with her partner Ryan Gosling - isn't worried about what her toddlers choose to wear because they "have the right".
She said: "Thank God there's no fashion talk. But I let them wear whatever they want. They have the right ... they want to wear jammies all day or if they want to go in a costume to the market , I let them do that stuff ... I let them win that battle. That's the easy one. I'm trying to get them to eat broccoli. That's the one I want to win. They can wear whatever they want."
And the 44-year-old actress thinks motherhood has made her "care less" but "care more" too.
She added to E! News: "I don't know. I guess I'm still in it. I'm still new to the game. I feel like in a way it makes me care less because it prioritises everything obviously but at the same time it makes me care more. Even though I have less time to think about what I'm wearing for my day or how to put something together, I think of it more in a sense of even if I'm not with my kids, I'm always representing them. It's always on my mind. I'm somebody's mother and I need to act accordingly. There's an intense amount of pressure that I feel but it's good pressure." |
Wetherspoon's pubs introduce new rule as customers were taking the warm welcome a little too far | Wetherspoon’s may be known for its cheap and cheerful approach but the ever-popular pub chain is cracking down on cheeky customers asking for a favour too far.
Bosses have reportedly had enough of diners and drinkers taking advantage of ‘Spoon’s well-known hospitality by asking staff to charge their phones behind the bar.
Fed up with the “hassle” of phones cluttering up the bar space, a nationwide ban is now being introduced.
(Image: Rick Byrne)
A JD Wetherspoon spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: “The bar itself is busy and we do not want people’s phones there.
"We also do not want the hassle of phones keep being handed over the bar for charging.
"If people wish to charge their phone in the pub, then that would be up to the discretion of the manager."
If you’re visiting the Yarborough Hotel or the Coliseum Picture Theatre, make sure your phone is juiced up before you head out! |
MFSA reform to trigger 'significant changes' - Silvio Schembri | Malta's financial regulator is to receive a legislative revamp to ensure it is equipped to handle the Fintech business government is keen to attract.
A motion for the first reading to amend the Malta Financial Services Authority Act would be presented to parliament on Monday, parliamentary secretary Silvio Schembri said.
"This will trigger significant changes that will help the MFSA step up its game," Mr Schembri said, saying the Act was built on a public consultation process launched last August.
"A global revolution has started, and it is called Fintech, and we are not happy in being just part of it, we want to lead it," he said.
EDITORIAL: A blueprint for a reformed MFSA
Among other things, the MFSA is currently in the process of developing a regulatory framework for virtual currencies and initial coin offerings, with Mr Schembri having also hinted a few weeks back that a 'Virtual Currency Act' was in the pipeline.
Mr Schembri was speaking at the inauguration of new offices in Attard for Tri-Mer Services, which is merging with Falzon and Falzon to create a 45-person firm.
The MFSA reform will coincide with a change in leadership, with Joe Bannister having said he will quit the regulator at the end of March following a 20-year period at its helm.
John Mamo, a founding partner of Mamo TCV Advocates, will take over as non-executive chairman.
Earlier this week, the EU's banking watchdog confirmed that it had launched a "preliminary investigation" into the MFSA's handling of Pilatus Bank, which was accused of aiding money laundering efforts by murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. |
Tens of Thousands March in Protest Over Rio Councillor's Murder | Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, March 15, after a prominent city councilor, who had campaigned against police brutality, was shot dead.On Wednesday, 38-year-old Marielle Franco and her driver were shot in her car, the BBC reported.Some streets were closed as protesters demanded justice over the politician’s death, according to local news reports. This video was taken by an eyewitness on the corner of R. da Consolacao and Paulista Avenue as the demonstration passed through. Credit: Antonio Carlos via Storyful |
Weather or Not: A Fairly Wet Year | Monday, Jan. 2nd – Lincoln County
Summary: It’s frosty and icy around the Central Coast early today as yesterday’s precipitation froze overnight. Mixed sky conditions prevailed on the first day of the new year with sunshine, fog, mist, light rain, a few snowflakes and a touch of sleet all recorded. The wind was gusty out of the northwest until about 2:00pm; early this morning the breeze veered to the east and fell fairly light, mainly under 10 mph. Temps varied from highs in the low-40s yesterday afternoon, to lows generally around 30F at daybreak this morning. By the way, we ended 2016 with about 5 inches of precipitation above normal (see summary below).
Newport Airport Conditions…
Ceiling: unlimited
Visibility: 10 miles/Wind: E 9 mph/Altimeter: 29.77”
Past 24 Hours High/Low/Gust/Rain…
Lincoln City: 46F/34F/27mph/0.15”
Depoe Bay: 43F/29F/40mph/0.16”
Newport: 43F/32F/31mph/0.07”
Waldport: 43F/33F/30mph/0.17”
Yachats: 43F/30F/32mph/0.30”
Central Coast Monthly/Yearly Precipitation Totals*…
December 2016: 8.94”
December Normal: 11.36”
Total for 2016: 76.03”
Annual Average: 70.99”
* As measured at the Hatfield Marine Science Center weather station in Newport.
Annual Climate Summary… Unfortunately, the only official National Weather Service station along the Oregon Coast with a yearly report available is at Astoria, which generally has quite different conditions than our area. Bearing that in mind, click here for a recap of 2016’s coastal statistics. [NOTE: News Lincoln County has just installed a new state-of-the-art weather station (thanks, Santa) that will accurately track Central Coast-specific data throughout the year so we will have complete monthly/annual local climate summaries in the future.]
Forecast: Don’t hold your breath waiting for snow. While there is still a lingering chance of snow showers today, once again the moisture quit before the cold air arrived and the recipe fell flat like a soufflé pulled from the oven too early. High today 40F, a mixed sky and chilly east winds gusting 20 mph or so. The coldest temps of the week are expected tonight when the mercury dips to 25F under partly cloudy skies. Mostly sunny tomorrow, high again about 40F and blustery east winds. Outlook is for another chance of snow on Wednesday, mostly cloudy Thursday, a chance of showers Friday, and then rain likely Saturday and Sunday. Moderating temps returning to seasonal, high 45F low 40F, by the weekend.
Be sure to follow Weather or Not’s Twitter feed to keep current on this week’s Wintry conditions. We provide updated travel info and notification of any advisories, watches or warnings. Follow @chrisburnswx.
Travel: Black ice and frost are prevalent on Central Coast roads this morning, so take it slow. In the Coast Range this morning, there’s icy pavement and 30F in the passes; a 50-50 chance of snow showers down to 500 feet today, high 30-35F. Willamette Valley destinations are expecting a chance of snow showers and partly sunny, high 35F. The Columbia River Gorge forecast calls for snow showers, cold east winds gusting 25-30 mph, highs of 25-30F. For the Cascades, there is packed snow on the highways and it’s snowing this morning, temps 15-20F, chains or traction tires are required over all the passes; snow showers slowly decreasing today, another 1-3 inches accumulation expected, the snow level remains well below the passes. Outlook for holiday weekend travelers is for some black ice, frost and snow possible on all highways tonight. * Motorists should always visit ODOT’s TripCheck before hitting the road.
Marine: Winds are ESE 10-15 knots this morning with rough seas 13 feet at 14 seconds. A Small Craft Advisory for hazardous seas remains in effect through this afternoon. E winds 10-15 knots gusting 20 today, seas subsiding to 10 feet at 13 seconds. Tonight and tomorrow, E winds 15-20 knots gusting 25 and swells down to 5-7 feet at 12-13 seconds. Outlook is for easterlies 20-25 knots with choppy 7 foot windwaves on Wednesday, E winds 10-15 knots, swells 2 feet Thursday, then S winds 10-15 knots and swells 3 feet Friday. * Make sure you check the latest Bar Reports before venturing offshore.
On the Beach… Mixed sky, breezy, surf 5-8 feet (moderate).
* For a safe and enjoyable time on the Central Coast, the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department offers these Beach Safety Tips.
* Tides
01/02 Mon 08:36 AM 3.57 L
01/02 Mon 02:25 PM 8.25 H
01/02 Mon 09:03 PM 0.11 L
01/03 Tue 03:55 AM 8.01 H
In Short: Chance of rain/snow showers, dry, cold, snow, then rain. |
Lottery cash will help college students get more active | Colleges within the RNN Group, which includes Rotherham College and North Notts College in Worksop, have received £229,500 of funding from Sport England to raise activity levels of students who are completing less than 30 minutes of activity each week.
Sport England’s new Strategy ‘Towards an Active Nation’ puts tackling inactivity at the heart of what it does.
As part of this initiative, Sport England is investing £5 million into projects in colleges that will support their students into regular activity.
The aim of the project is to contribute towards the students’ positive mental wellbeing by reducing stress and improving confidence, building individual development such as working in a team and overall promote a more active lifestyle that can be eventually applied to higher education or employment.
John Connolly, chief executive of the RNN Group said: “On behalf of the colleges within the RNN Group, I would like to say a huge thank you to the National Lottery and Sport England for their funding towards such a worthwhile project.
“As an institution we are committed to developing skills in all aspects of a student’s experience at college and this will be a major contribution to these aims.”
“Working towards a healthier and active lifestyle is not only essential for our students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, but will also help build interpersonal skills that can be used long after they leave.”
The Active for Life project will take place at Rotherham College, North Notts College and Dearne Valley College over the next two years.
A wide variety of physical activity, sport and fitness opportunities will be provided for students at the colleges.
Mike Diaper, executive director of Community Sport said: “We are delighted to offer the RNN Group National Lottery funding to help get students active.
“This funding will allow colleges to be innovative in addressing the needs and desires of their students to help embed activity in their lifestyle in college and for years to come.”
For more information about the RNN Group, visit the website at www.rnngroup.co.uk |
Trulia Launches 'The House Is Only Half of It' TV Campaign | Trulia has launched a new national TV campaign, “The House Is Only Half of It,” which showcases its deep neighborhood insights and underscores the importance of community in the home search, the Zillow Group owned- and operated-company recently announced. The campaign’s two 30-second ad spots will air on major cable and network stations, as well as be optimized for various digital video platforms and social channels.
“Finding a place to call home is so much more than the four walls you will live in—it’s about finding the home that fits your needs, and the ideal neighbors, blocks and streets,” says Alissa Reiter, vice president of Marketing at Trulia. “We wanted to highlight the sense of elation and relief when you find your ideal home and neighborhood by having a little fun showcasing a few extreme examples of nightmare neighborhoods.”
The two ads feature a family (the Coburns) and a single woman (Beth) looking for their dream homes. They discover big issues with the neighborhoods along the way. In addition to researching the home features, such as price, square footage and photos, the Coburns and Beth use Trulia’s 34 different map overlays to find the exact neighborhoods—and homes—they are looking for.
Trulia partnered with advertising agency Deutsch LA for creative and Park Pictures for production.
Coinciding with the launch of the campaign is the release of results from a recent Trulia survey that reveals attitudes toward the neighborhood in the home search. Eighty-four percent of those surveyed said the neighborhood would be “equally important” or “more important” than the house itself. In order to live in their ideal neighborhood, those surveyed would be willing to give up:
A pool (72 percent)
A furnished basement (55 percent)
Square footage (33 percent)
Garage (21 percent)
Yard (19 percent)
A bathroom (13 percent)
A bedroom (12 percent)
Safety (80 percent) and accessibility (62 percent), as defined by proximity to work, restaurants, grocery stores and activities, overwhelmingly are most important when it comes to the neighborhood, according to the survey; however, for parents of children under 18, schools (62 percent) came second to safety (79 percent).
“We have heard repeatedly from consumers how important it is to feel safe walking your dog at night, how local school ratings matter for their children, and how walkability to restaurants and entertainment is the ultimate convenience,” Reiter says. “These are all dimensions that play a huge role in deciding on the right home.”
Other findings from the survey include:
Multiple trips to determine neighborhood fit – As part of their home search, more than two-thirds (69 percent) of those surveyed said they would drive through the neighborhood during different times of the day to determine if the neighborhood was the right fit for them.
More neighborhood and home research done online – Not every buyer is within driving distance of their home. People who are relocating to cities and states often need to make a decision using only online information. In fact, house hunting today is increasingly done online. Among those surveyed who have ever searched for a home, 78 percent have used the internet on either a computer or mobile device, up from 73 percent in 2012.
Some are willing to pay a premium – Unfortunately, every budget has a limit. When asked, those surveyed were split 50/50 on whether or not they would be willing to pay above listing price to live in their ideal neighborhood if they were looking for a new home (50 percent would and 50 percent would not).
For more information on Trulia’s survey, please click here.
Watch the new ad spots below:
The Coburns:
Beth:
For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com. |
Body Found In Car Towed To Westlake District | 5 Most Scenic Walking Trails In Los Angeles Los Angeles is widely known as the entertainment capital of the world. But, few who visit realize the jaw-dropping and beautiful terrain to discover.
Best Activities To Do This Weekend In Los Angeles - April 14For those that did not or would not score tickets to the party in the desert known as Coachella, there are still an insane amount of cool things happening all over the Southland. |
Best dressed this week: Alia Bhatt and Karisma Kapoor | Deepika Padukone has had a very busy week. First, the actor was seen treating herself to a Rajasthani thali in Mumbai, for which she picked a bottle green Sabyasachi sharara set featuring gold embroidery. Just a day later, we saw the star board a flight to Delhi, where she cheered her father on at an awards ceremony in a pink sari, also by the couturier. As the week progressed, the actor stepped out in yet another Sabyasachi look for Padmaavat promotions. This time around, Deepika Padukone gave traditional wear a break, pairing a crisp white Zara shirt with a hand painted, hand embroidered floral skirt.
1 /10 Deepika Padukone in Sabyasachi and Tanishq Image: Viral Bhayani Deepika Padukone in Sabyasachi, Zara and Christian Louboutin Image: Instagram.com/shaleenanathani Alia Bhatt in Anita Dongre and Amrapali Image: Viral Bhayani Anushka Sharma in Anita Dongre, PinkCity and Jet Gems Image: Instagram.com/alliaalrufai Athiya Shetty Image: Viral Bhayani Beyoncé in Azzi Osta at the 60th Grammy Awards 2018 in New York Image: Instagram.com/beyonce Chrissy Teigen in Yanina, Gianvito Rossi and Lorraine Schwartz Image: Rex Features Karisma Kapoor in Bibhu Mohapatra and Isharya Image: Instagram.com Katie Holmes Image: Rex Features Shilpa Shetty Kundra in Rajesh Pratap Singh Image: Viral Bhayani
Alia Bhatt and Anushka Sharma opt for anarkalis
This week also saw both Alia Bhatt and Anushka Sharma favour Anita Dongre creations. The stars came together at an event that celebrated International Customs Day, and were joined there by Ranveer Singh, Sridevi, Shah Rukh Khan, Sushmita Sen and many other stars. While Alia Bhatt made it to our best dressed list in a black and white anarkali, Anushka Sharma joined her in a cheerful yellow anarkali, worn with an ivory dupatta.
Karisma Kapoor and Shilpa Shetty Kundra pick ivory dresses
Going with Western silhouettes this week, both Karisma Kapoor and Shilpa Shetty Kundra opted for classic whites. Before heading to Goa for Amrita Arora Ladak’s starry 40th birthday celebrations, Karisma Kapoor made an appearance in a white Bibhu Mohapatra number featuring peek-a-boo details and a thigh-high slit. As for Shilpa Shetty Kundra, it was a wrap dress by Rajesh Pratap Singh, splattered with gold.
Beyoncé, Chrissy Teigen and Katie Holmes at the Grammys
Overseas, Hollywood’s coolest crew headed to the Grammy Awards this week. Some of the most exciting looks: Beyoncé’s asymmetrical black Azzi & Osta gown, mom-to-be Chrissy Teigen’s shimmering silver Yanina dress, and Katie Holmes’ black strapless |
BRIEF-Prudential Bancorp reports Q2 loss per share $0.27 | April 28 Prudential Bancorp Inc-
* Prudential Bancorp Inc announces second quarter fiscal 2017 results and the completion of the Polonia Bancorp Inc acquisition
* Q2 loss per share $0.27
* Prudential Bancorp Inc - for three months ended march 31, 2017, net interest income increased to $5.3 million compared to $3.5 million for same period in fiscal 2016 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: |
Leaving Joe? Teresa Giudice CAUGHT With Another Man While Her Husband Sits In Jail | Congrats Ashton Kutcher for being the first recipient of CelebTweets.com’s “Foot in Mouth” Award!
June 30, 1975: A few days after her divorce was finalized to Sonny Bono, Cher marries rock star Gregg Allman. She then filed for divorce from him nine days later. |
Woman known for making pierogies at Carnegie church to turn 99 | Sign up for one of our email newsletters.
Happy 99th birthday to Mary Ann Steranka, who will celebrate June 5. Her blessings will be shared with daughters Trish, Pamela and Marilyn, granddaughter Kelley, sons-in-law Tim, Lindsay and Jim and surrogate daughter Kathie. A special part of her family includes nieces Sally, Jeannie, Linda, Maureen. Cindy, Laura, Rainey, nephew Bob and all of their spouses along with many great-nieces and great-nephews. Look for Mary Ann on the dance floor or happily making the best pierogies in the area at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie.
• Congratulations to Downey's House on Steubenville Pike, which celebrated 10 successful years of service May 27. Anita, Joe, Tony and Heather hope to celebrate many more years in the future and thank all of their family and friends for their love and support.
• Shirley and Mickey Lazor will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary June 3. They have three children, Traci Oelschlager, Mike (Sue) Lazor and Rich (Meg) Lazor; eight grandchildren, MJ, Scott, Matt, John, David, Joey, Alex and Markee; and three great-grandchildren, Dominic, Maykayla and Jayden Lazor.
• Happy 13th birthday to Vincenzo Ernesto Marra, who celebrates June 4. He is the son of Tammy and Matthew Marra and has a big brother, Salvatore.
• Birthday wishes are sent to David Kushner, who celebrates June 1, Bob Skoros, who celebrates June 4, and Aaron Kushner, who celebrates June 6.
• Happy third wedding anniversary to Lindy and Dean Dedola, who celebrate June 4.
• Happy 1st birthday to Trent Ryan Butts, who celebrates June 5. Trent is the son of Kathryn and Tom Butts and younger sibling to Tommy, Kaylie, Trevor and Kourtney. Grandparents include Michael and Leanne Butcher of Rhode Island and Tom and Maureen Butts of Robinson.
• Happy 41st wedding anniversary to Sandy and Ken Skvarca of Carnegie, who celebrated May 21. They are the parents of Ben (Mary Beth) and Andy (Lauren) and have three wonderful grandchildren.
• Birthdays this week include Mateo Leach, Lizanne Kouche Hilty, Joni Sherba-Flanagan, Harold Goolsby, Ben Skvarca, Alicia Mixter, Karen Cummings, Nikki Reinhart, Giovanna Mollica Maloney and Jeff Gray.
• Regina and Father Bob Popichak celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary May 21. They are the parents of Matthew and Alexander.
• Happy 7th birthday to Brayden Wilmus, who celebrates June 3. He is the son of Anne (Reynolds) and Michael Wilmus, big brother to Lila and Linley and grandson of Karen and Tom Wilmus of Carnegie and Diane and Phil Reynolds of South Park.
Cindy Babish-Schultz is a contributing writer for the Tribune-Review. Submit birthday, anniversary and other special announcements to her at 412-249-6346 or cbabish@aol.com. |
Juan Thompson, former journalist, pleads guilty over Jewish center bomb threats | The former journalist accused of making at least a dozen phony bomb threats to Jewish Community Centers across the country this year faces up to a decade behind bars after pleading guilty Tuesday in Manhattan federal court.
Juan Thompson, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking and one count of making hoax threats in connection with what U.S. prosecutors portrayed as a monthslong campaign of harassment centered around an unidentified ex-girlfriend after she ended their relationship last summer.
In the course of seeking revenge against the woman, Thompson admittedly made bombs threats against Jewish centers in multiple states under his ex-girlfriend’s name, all the while waging a narrower campaign of harassment aimed at humiliating and defaming her in the wake of their July 2016 break-up.
“I committed all these acts with the intent to disrupt my ex romantic partner’s life and cause her substantial distress,” Thompson told U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel during Tuesday’s hearing. “For this, I deeply apologize and am pleading guilty today.”
Thompson, a St. Louis native and former writer for The Intercept, was arrested in March and charged with making bombs threats in January and February to Jewish targets in New York, California, Michigan and Texas, including Jewish Community Centers, the Anti-Defamation League and Jewish History Museum in Manhattan.
“As he admitted today in pleading guilty, Thompson made these threats as part of a cruel campaign to cyberstalk a victim with whom he previously had a relationship,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim said in a statement. “Thompson’s threats not only inflicted emotional distress on his victim, but also harmed Jewish communities around the country.”
Thompson spent months harassing his ex-girlfriend prior to making the bogus bomb threats by spreading salacious allegations about the woman and threatening to publicly release her naked photographs, prosecutors argued.
“For months our client was the target of relentless and unrelenting online stalking, defamation and impersonation at the hands of Juan Thompson,” said Carrie Goldberg, an attorney for the victim, the Riverfront Time reported. “What began as revenge porn culminated in a national news story when he called in hoax bomb threats at Jewish Community Centers around the country, again impersonating her or claiming he knew she was about to take this violent action.”
Thompson faces a maximum of five years in prison for cyberstalking and five years in prison for making hoax threats, as well as fines of up to $500,000 when he’s sentenced Sept. 15. Defense attorneys are requesting Thompson be sentenced to no more than three years behind bars but have agreed not to appeal anything under 46 months, NBC News reported.
Attorneys for Thompson did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. |
Tennis star struggles with Yorkshire accent | Video
"Where you from, buddy?"
Despite initially struggling to understand his accent during a press conference at the French Open, Germany's Alexander Zverev promises a reporter from Yorkshire that if he makes the final, the reporter can ask multiple questions. |
France calls on Russia to respect truce in Syria | PARIS: France on Monday called on Russia to stop military action in Syria and respect a fragile cease-fire brokered by Moscow and Turkey seeking to end nearly six years of war.
“We resolutely condemn everything Russia could do in Syria that would contribute to a continuation of fighting,” Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on France Inter radio.
The truce deal, which was welcomed unanimously by the United Nations Security Council, has been repeatedly violated since it began, with warring sides trading the blame.
Rebels on Saturday warned they would abandon the truce if the government side continued to violate it, asking the Russians, who support Bashar Assad, to rein in army and militia attacks in the valley by 8:00 p.m.
“We hope talks between separate Syrian forces will continue so the cease-fire can hold,” Cazeneuve said.
“We ask the Russians to stop taking part in military operations which are deadly operations,” he added, without specifying which actions in particular he was referring to. |
Lyft still sees a place for human drivers in an autonomous fleet | Matthiesen explains that the company already has an advisory board that is working on how human drivers will fit into a vision of a driverless fleet. Humans can do things that self-driving cars simply cannot, such as help with suitcases or assist passengers with mobility impairments. He explained, "There are things we're doing beyond getting a passenger from point A to point B, additional services that we as a company can look at."
Still, it's likely that eventually that most of Lyft's drivers will eventually be replaced by self-driving tech. Last month, the company announced they were opening a research division in Palo Alto focused exclusively on autonomous vehicles. Human drivers may serve more of a concierge function, taking on passengers that need extra help, while self-driving cars will likely take on the bulk of straightforward rides. |
Worldwide Express Ranked as 41st Largest Logistics Provider and 5th Largest Freight Brokerage in | Companies on the Top 50 Logistics Companies list are ranked based on net revenue for the most recent 12-month period. The annual list also provides a breakdown of the top freight brokerage firms, air and ocean freight forwarders, warehouse operators and dedicated contract carriage service providers in the United States and Canada.
"It's always an honor to be featured on Transport Topics' list of top third-party logistics companies, and we couldn't be prouder to be featured among our great peers in the space," said Worldwide Express CEO Tom Madine. "We have an extraordinarily talented team and group of franchisees who create incredible customer experiences and bring unique value to our carrier partners that continues to fuel our growth each year."
In recent years, Worldwide Express has attributed its substantial growth to their strong partnerships with high-quality carriers for small package, LTL and FTL. The company provides industry-leading service by prioritizing face-to-face relationships with its more than 600 field sales people who meet with the company's more than 90,000 customers across the country.
"We owe a lot of our growth to our exceptional carrier partnerships and our incredibly talented sales teams who meet with our customers daily to make sure we're not just meeting, but exceeding their needs for shipping solutions," Madine said. "We'll continue to work to be the 3PL of choice for shippers of all sizes and a place where talented people can build long-term careers across all parts of our business."
About Worldwide Express
Worldwide Express is a full-service, non-asset logistics provider offering more than 90,000 customers access to industry-leading small package, less-than-truckload and truckload shipping solutions. Worldwide Express and Unishippers, under common ownership, are the largest non-retail reseller of UPS® shipping services, operating from more than 200 company and franchise locations across the country. Worldwide Express is a local partner for the global supply chains of small- to medium-sized businesses nationwide. This, coupled with a selective portfolio of 50 LTL and thousands of full truckload carriers, ensures customers an unmatched range of options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. To learn more about Worldwide Express, please visit www.wwex.com.
Media Contact: Ann Maher, Fishman Public Relations, 847-945-1300 or amaher@fishmanpr.com
View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/worldwide-express-ranked-as-41st-largest-logistics-provider-and-5th-largest-freight-brokerage-in-north-america-300635077.html
SOURCE Worldwide Express
Related Links
http://www.wwex.com |
Kansas police officer wounded in training accident | DOUGLAS COUNTY ¬— A Kansas police officer was injured in an firearms training accident Monday in Douglas County.
Just before 3p.m., the Lawrence police officer suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during firearms training at the Fraternal Order of
Police Lodge #2, 768 E 661 Diagonal Road, according to a media release.
The officer was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Preliminary information indicates the injury occurred when equipment became entangled inside the trigger guard causing the firearm to discharge. The officer has been with the department for 2 years. Authorities did not release the officer’s name. |
Amir Khan baby girl wife Faryal Makhdoom instagram | INSTAGRAM / AMIR KHAN BABY NUMBER 2: The boxer announced the happy news via Instagram today
Boxer Amir Khan has become a father for the second time after wife Faryal Makhdoom, 26, gave birth to a baby girl today. The 31-year-old British-Pakistani star announced the happy news on the official Amir Khan Instagram page today, revealing that the couple have named their newborn Alayna Khan. He captioned the adorbale picture: "Welcome to the world. With my and Faryal Makhdoom's new born, Weighing 8lbs 3oz ALAYNA KHAN."
Faryal Makhdoom: Amir Khan's knockout wife Boxer Amir Khan's wife Faryal shows off her glamorous life 1 / 20 faryalmakhdoom Amir's wife Faryal has amassed an impressive 838k Instagram followers
Naturally fans of the former I'm A Celeb contestant were quick to congratualte him on the arrival of his newborn. One wrote: "Big congratulations to you and the family!" A second said: "Omg she's beautiful, it's a girl!" A third added: "Congratulations!! If only she'd had it yesterday, she would have received a coin from Kensington Palace!"
INSTAGRAM / AMIR KHAN HAPPY COUPLE: The pair seem to be going from strength to strength after a turbulent year
The jouyous news comes after the couple's turbulant year, in which they were involved in a very public spat over Twitter. In February of this year, Makhdoom spoke to Piers Morgan about her very public fall-out with her husband, which began on Twitter and ended when Amir sensatiomally claimed that his wife had slept with fellow boxer, Anthony Joshua. She denied having had any sexual relationship with Joshua. Speaking to Piers Morgan about their troubles earlier this year, she said: "I have forgiven him. "We have both made mistakes.
Karwai Tang/WireImage CONGRATULATIONS! The duo were inundated with congratulatory messages after their announcement
Jan Kruger/Getty Images CHAMPION! The former boxer beat Phil Lo Greco at the Echo Arena in Liverpool last Saturday. |
Former AG, ex-Jordanian PM top contenders for Pak's ICJ ad-hoc judge choice: report | ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has begun consultations over the nomination of an ad-hoc judge for the Kulbhushan Jadhav case being heard at the International Court of Justice with an ex-attorney general and a former Jordanian premier emerging as the top contenders, a media report said today. India had moved the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Jadhav's death penalty handed down by a Pakistani military court. The ICJ had on May 18 restrained Pakistan from executing the death sentence.Pakistan government's functionaries have started consultations for the nomination of an ad-hoc judge, Express Tribune reported, citing sources.During the tenure of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif , former Supreme Court judge Khalilur Rehman Ramday was approached, but he declined the nomination, the report said.Sources were quoted by the daily as saying that the Attorney General for Pakistan's (AGP) office has recommended the names of senior lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan and former Jordanian prime minister Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh to the Prime Minister's Office for the nomination of one name as an ad-hoc judge.Khasawneh served as an ICJ judge for over a decade, while Khan, a former Attorney General who is seen as the favourite for the job, also has experience in international arbitration cases, having represented eight different countries in international courts.The nomination of the ad-hoc judge will be finalised after getting inputs from the Foreign Office and the military establishment, the sources said, adding that earlier, government functionaries had also considered the name of former chief justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani.An official was quoted as saying that the name of the ad- hoc judge will be finalised next month, soon after the Indian side files its documents.Meanwhile, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) representative Raheel Kamran Sheikh has called upon the government to seek Parliament's approval on the appointment of the ad-hoc judge.Only one person has previously been appointed as ICJ judge in Pakistan's history -- former foreign minister Zafarullah Khan, who was appointed in 1954 and later became the president of the court.Yaqub Ali Khan and Sharifuddin Pirzada both served as ad-hoc judges, as did Zafarullah. |
Man sentenced to life for drowning woman outside Gulf Breeze bar | Christopher Lindsay, 43 was arrested today near the Santa Rosa and Okaloosa County line, charged with murder in the death of 55-year-old Lorie Musil, according to a news release from the GB police department. (Photo: Special to the News Journal)
A Navarre man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for drowning a woman outside a Gulf Breeze bar.
A Santa Rosa County jury found Christopher Alexander Lindsay, 46, guilty of second-degree murder after testimony during the trial showed that Lindsay had killed Lorie Musil, 55.
Lindsay and Musil left the Bridge Bar and Sunset Lounge, near the foot of the Pensacola Bay Bridge, together on Nov. 22, 2015. Lindsay was showing the victim his boat, which was docked behind the bar, according to a State Attorney's Office release.
More: Three critical after three-vehicle Barrancas Avenue crash
Lindsay came back about 40 minutes later alone, shirtless, and his hair, neck and chest were wet. Witnesses said Lindsay was erratic, angry and intoxicated, and said Musil pushed him into the water, so he drowned her. Lindsay was kicked out of the bar and checked into a nearby hotel that night.
Authorities found Musil's body the next night, laying on the rocks along the shoreline. Her body appeared to have been placed on the rocks, as opposed to washing up on them, the release said.
An autopsy determined Musil died by drowning by facial immersion. She had numerous external bruises on her arms, knees, and legs, as well as internal bruises.
Phone records show that Musil's phone stopped providing location information at 11:07 p.m., which is between when she and Lindsay left the bar together at 10:35 p.m. and when Lindsay returned alone at 11:16 p.m.
Read or Share this story: http://www.pnj.com/story/news/crime/2017/12/11/navarre-man-sentenced-life-prison-drowning-woman-outside-gulf-breeze-bar/940113001/ |
Admitted Child Predator Orders Uber For Undercover Canadian Coun - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | | An alleged child predator is off the streets. Taylor Kilgore, 21, is now in the Canadian County jail for trying to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.
Canadian County Sheriff Chris West says Kilgore does not have a car of his own, but he was so intent on hooking up with who he thought was a 14-year-old, that he bought an Uber ride to take her from Canadian County to southwest Oklahoma City.
West says Kilgore initiated the contact with one of his undercover deputies on Facebook last Wednesday. Within two days, West says Kilgore sent nude photos of himself and tried to convince her to have sex with him and a friend.
Late Friday night, Kilgore invited the girl to his southwest Oklahoma City house, where his grandparents were peacefully sleeping. “He even says, ‘when we hook up at my house, which is actually my grandparents live here, if they ask you how old you are tell them you’re 18,” West describes, “so he knows that it’s wrong.”
When the Uber driver arrived in Canadian County, a team from the sheriff’s office was waiting. The driver agreed to participate in the sting and the undercover deputy hopped inside while the rest followed.
West says, “When we get to Kilgore’s house, he’s anxiously waiting out in the front yard. He can’t wait for her to get there.”
West says Kilgore admitted to his crimes once he was busted, leaving his grandparents dismayed and disappointed that he essentially ruined his chances at a successful future. “It doesn’t matter if they’re 18, 21 or 75, it’s a shame that people get involved in this and they have these sick fantasies and they’re actually willing to live them out,” says West.
That is why the sheriff urges parents, if your child has been in contact with Kilgore, please reach out to his office to report it so they can investigate. He says, “We know that we’re doing good work protecting children, but it’s just a sad situation that people throw their lives away.”
Kilgore was jailed on a $50,000 bond. His grandparents have not yet bailed him out. |
Report: Colts Sign Former Lions Tight End Eric Ebron | The Indianapolis Colts made a splash in free agency Monday night when they announced the signing of tight end Eric Ebron.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the news on Twitter, noting that the deal could be a two-year deal worth as much as $15 million.
Former Lions’ TE Eric Ebron is signing a two-year deal worth a maximum value of $15 million with the Indianapolis Colts, per source. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2018
Colts now can line up TEs Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle for Andrew Luck. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2018
Ebron was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 10th overall choice in 2014 NFL Draft. He started 37 games and made 186 receptions for 2,070 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Las week, the Lions decided to release the tight end, rather than pay him $8.25 million this upcoming season.
Nevertheless, he is a Indianapolis Colt now and quarterback Andrew Luck will now have two tight end options in Ebron and Jack Doyle, who made 80 receptions for Indianapolis this past season.
Enron spoke about his new home in Indy on a conference call with Indy Star.
Via Indy Star
I fell in love with the coaching staff and I fell in love with the GM,” Ebron said on a conference call shortly after signing his deal. “That’s what kind of pushed the envelope for me to want to be here. Everyone showed love and a lot of support for my game and my family and the things that I wanted to accomplish. It was something I prayed on and I asked for a symbol, a light, and that’s exactly what happened on this visit. It was a no brainer after that.”
SOURCE: Twitter, Colts.com, Indy Star | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
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Welfare comes before defence spending - Merkel | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that welfare and social spending must take precedence over the increased military expenditure demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump.
BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that welfare and social spending must take precedence over the increased military expenditure demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The conservative leader's Social Democratic (SPD) rivals in an election on Sept. 24 have accused her of bowing to the U.S. administration's demand that Germany meet NATO's spending target of 2 percent of national output on defence.
The SPD, who lag Merkel's Christian Democrats in the polls by some 15 percentage points, said Germany would have to nearly double current defence spending from 37 billion euros (US$43.65 billion) to meet the NATO target.
Merkel's ruling coalition, which includes the SPD as junior partner, has approved defence spending hikes that fall short of the NATO target.
(US$1 = 0.8477 euros)
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke; Writing by Joseph Nasr, editing by Thomas Escritt)
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Re-lay Law School admissions L.I. | The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Gloria Afua Akuffo has advised Parliament to withdraw the controversial Legal Profession Regulations and take steps to re-lay it in the House.
This, according to the Attorney General, is because some processes governing such regulations were not adhered to, adding that the regulation was not gazetted on time, hence the advice.
“Your directive to the Ghana Publishing Company Limited to gazette the Regulation after the 22nd of December, 2017 does not meet the requirement of article 11(7) (b) of the 1992 Constitution. I kindly advise that the necessary arrangements are made to ensure that the Legal Profession (Professional and Post-Call Law Course) Regulation, 2017 are re-laid before Parliament in compliance with article 11 (7) of the 1992 constitution,” a letter the Attorney General wrote to the Parliamentary Committee on Subsidiary Legislation and sighted bystated.
Withdraw it now – Muntaka
Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, had on Thursday, prayed Parliament to withdraw the Legal Profession Regulations currently before Parliament.
According to him, the legislation, which has been in Parliament for over a month now, has not even been seen by some of the Members of Parliament as they have not received any copies.
Muntaka also alleged that, information available to him suggests the regulation has not been gazetted.
The Attorney General in the letter reminded Parliament of what article 11 (7) of the 1992 Constitution states pertaining to the laying of bills as captured below:
Any Order, Rule or Regulation made by a person or authority under a power conferred by this Constitution or any other law shall
(a) be laid before Parliament;
(b) be published in the Gazette on the day it is laid before Parliament; and
(c) come into force at the expiration of twenty-one sitting days after being so laid unless Parliament, before the expiration of the twenty-one days annuls the Order, Rule or Regulation by the votes of note less than two-thirds of all the members of Parliament.
Annul regulation now
Prior to that, a group calling itself, the Association of Law students had called on Parliament to annul the regulation.
The Association of Law Students on January 29, 2018, petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo to cause the withdrawal of the controversial Legal Profession Regulations 2017 from Parliament.
The Association wants the President to impress on Members of Parliament to vote against the regulation.
The General Legal Council laid the Regulations in Parliament on December 22, 2017, in response to a Supreme Court order for a clear admission procedure into the Ghana School of Law, and call to the Ghana Bar.
The proposed L.I. in question, among other things, states that the General Legal Council will conduct an entrance exam for the admission of students to the school, and conduct interviews for all applicants who pass the Ghana School of Law Entrance Examination.
The LI is expected to become Law this month, February, 2018.
But the law students maintain that if the document is passed in its current form, it will restrict access to legal education.
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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin |