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Total 100 articles, created at 2016-08-17 06:00 1 Univision Wins In The Bidding War To Buy Gawker Media It's over. Univision has emerged as the winner of the contest to buy (2.04/3) Gawker Media. Second in the fight was Ziff Davis. Univision ultimately agreed to buy Gawker's seven sites for $135 million. 2016-08-17 05:21 2KB dailycaller.com 2 Walkers 'Spell and Go' holiday competition falls foul of ASA ban (1.02/3) Walkers has landed itself in hot water over the online element of its popular 'Spell & Go' competition which offered customers the chance to win a free holiday. 2016-08-17 05:42 3KB www.thedrum.com 3 Maryland's Ten Commandments Contact WND (0.02/3) Years ago, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore’s monument to the Ten Commandments, the foundation for the law in the United States, cost him his job, even though voters put him back in the same position the first chance they had. In Oklahoma, a judge... 2016-08-17 02:35 3KB www.wnd.com 4 New refugee crisis 'to explode thanks to Hillary' Contact WND (0.01/3) One of the leading human rights voices in the United States says Nigeria is becoming badly destabilized due to the rampage of terrorist groups, and a fragmenting of the population there could trigger a refugee crisis in the West that would make the current infusion of refugees pale in... 2016-08-17 02:34 5KB www.wnd.com 5 Zuma opens the curtain on South African presidential funerals The military and police will have to scramble a rapid response team when a president or former president dies‚ to ensure guard of honour and a lying in state. 2016-08-17 06:00 3KB www.timeslive.co.za 6 Nursing and Allied Health Job Fair, Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Nursing and Allied Health Job FairTuesday, August 23, 2016Newton Marriott2345 Commonwealth Ave., Newton10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Job SeekersDon’t miss this exciting opportunity 2016-08-17 06:00 1KB www.bostonherald.com

7 #WalangPasok: List of class suspensions for Wednesday, Aug. 17 (Updated) Some local government units on Tuesday declared class suspensions as inclement weather continues to affect some provinces in Luzon. Classes in the following areas were suspended 2016-08-17 06:00 1KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 8 More than 82,000 people flee Southern California wildfire LOS ANGELES — A new wildfire spread Tuesday at a staggering pace in every direction through drought parched canyons east of Los Angeles, growing to 14 square miles in a matter of hours and 2016-08-17 06:00 5KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 9 North Korea calls South’s leader ‘psychopath’ over missile row SEOUL—North Korea on Wednesday labelled South Korean President Park Geun-Hye a "psychopath" after she made a speech slamming Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions and defending the 2016-08-17 06:00 2KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 10 US Navy names ship after gay rights advocate Harvey Milk WASHINGTON — The Navy is naming a ship in honor of the late gay rights leader Harvey Milk, who served in the Navy for four years before he began a career in San Francisco city 2016-08-17 06:00 2KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 11 Argentine cancer survivor wins Olympic sailing gold at 54 RIO DE JANEIRO — Santiago Lange lost count of how many times he broke down during the celebration on the shore of Guanabara Bay, where one of the more remarkable stories of the Olympics 2016-08-17 06:00 6KB sports.inquirer.net 12 Olympics: Rio boxing embroiled in fresh controversy RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — An Irish amateur world champion accused Olympic boxing of corruption on Tuesday as the sport was embroiled in fresh controversy barely 12 hours after a Russian was booed 2016-08-17 06:00 4KB sports.inquirer.net 13 Ban on Islam-inspired burkini spreads in France NARBONNE, France — Three resorts in France were poised Tuesday to join three other seaside towns in banning the burkini, the full-body Islamic swimming garment that has sparked concern about 2016-08-17 06:00 5KB newsinfo.inquirer.net

14 CLOUDSEC holds internet security conference in Manila CLOUDSEC, a global community for cyber-security experts and professionals, held its global internet security conference in Manila for the first time on Tuesday. Its main theme was to empower users 2016-08-17 06:00 2KB technology.inquirer.net 15 Drug-crazed teen found biting off face of man he stabbed dead MIAMI, United States — A teenager bit off pieces of the face of a slain man at the scene of a double homicide in Florida that may be linked to an addictive synthetic drug. Police said 2016-08-17 06:00 2KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 16 Russian Tu-22M3 'Backfire' long-range bombers strike ISIS from Iran's Hamadan airfield (VIDEO) — RT News Russia’s long-range Tu-22M3 bombers delivered their first airstrikes on terrorist targets in Syria operating from an Iranian airbase. Moscow and Tehran cooperation in Syria is “strategic,” confirmed the head of Iran’s National Security Council. 2016-08-17 06:00 4KB www.rt.com 17 Alarming rise in number of sexual harassment cases in BMC offices With an average of 29 cases of sexual harassment filed each year, women employees of India's richest and Asia's biggest civic body, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, are a vulnerable lot, a RTI query has revealed 2016-08-17 06:00 3KB www.mid-day.com 18 Delhi court asks Omar Abdullah's estranged wife to vacate house A Delhi court on Tuesday ordered Payal Abdullah, the estranged wife of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to vacate the government accommodation allotted to Omar in the Lutyens zone in the national capital 2016-08-17 06:00 2KB www.mid- day.com 19 Unearthed! British-era bunker discovered under Raj Bhavan in Mumbai A forgotten 150-metre long, underground British-era bunker has been unearthed inside the sprawling Raj Bhavan complex at Malabar Hill in south Mumbai, an official said on Tuesday 2016-08-17 06:00 2KB www.mid-day.com

20 MHA orders security audit of airports, luggage check on entry Facing threat of terror attacks, the Home Ministry has ordered security audit of nearly 100 civil airports and decided to bring all such facilities under CISF cover gradually 2016-08-17 06:00 3KB www.mid-day.com 21 Mumbai port handles record 6,316-car shipment Government today said Mumbai Port, one of the 12 major ports of the country, has set a new record of handling shipment of 6,316 cars in a single ship 2016-08-17 06:00 1KB www.mid-day.com 22 Disappointed Iraqi migrants return home with ‘idealized’ expectations of Europe shattered – report — RT News Thousands of Iraqi migrants have become disillusioned by Europe and end up returning to their home country, according to a new report. Facing asylum delays and poor living conditions, they said their idealized expectations have been dwarfed by harsh realities. 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB www.rt.com 23 Conductor Jules Buckley on Quincy Jones Prom: 'We're bricking it' Conductor Jules Buckley, who is curating next week's Quincy Jones Prom, says the nerves are starting to kick in. 2016-08-17 05:21 7KB www.bbc.co.uk 24 Syrian conflict: Russian bombers use Iran base for air strikes Russia says it has used a base in Iran to carry out air strikes in Syria, the first time it has deployed bombers to a third country. 2016-08-16 17:19 4KB www.bbc.co.uk 25 Homeowners sue over Pokestop on their property — RT America Ornery old people yelling at kids to get off their lawn is a classic stereotype, but not when it comes to Pokémon Go. A couple in Michigan is suing Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, for encouraging players to enter their property. 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB www.rt.com 26 Delighted scientists discover goofy squid (VIDEO) — RT America What’s purple, googly-eyed and lives under the sea? The Rossia pacifica, also known as the stubby squid, is your new favorite cephalopod. The small creatures resemble a Spongebob character come to life and were caught on film off the California coast. 2016-08-17 05:21 1KB www.rt.com

27 Sport Tech Weekly podcast episode 1: Smart watches for refs, LA VR, Twitter's land grab, 15-seconds of fame and drone racing (!) (Editor’s note: We’re pleased to launch this new podcast, dedicated to sports and technology, in partnership with Sport Techie. Each week, we’ll explore some of the bigger — and quirkier stories coming out of this burgeoning space.) 2016-08-17 05:42 2KB www.thedrum.com 28 Bonin Bough has left Mondelez weeks before his CNBC show begins Mondelēz International’s chief media and e-commere officer Bonin Bough is leaving the company, AdAge reports. 2016-08-17 05:42 2KB www.thedrum.com 29 John McLaughlin, R. I. P. John McLaughlin, the host of the syndicated political talk show The McLaughlin Group has passed away at the age of 89. McLaughlin had... 2016-08-17 05:21 1KB spectator.org 30 Ford aims to build a self-driving car with no pedals or steering wheel by 2021 Ford has announced its intention to build autonomous cars with no steering wheel or pedals within the next five years. 2016-08-17 05:42 1KB www.thedrum.com 31 European grocers are battling with some of the worst trading figures on record European grocers are trying to combat dwindling prices paid for goods and even bleaker sales coming through their tills, with Neilsen reporting that figures are at their worst since it began its measurement in 2008. 2016-08-17 05:41 2KB www.thedrum.com 32 Intel steps up VR game with cord-free headset Let’s face it, none of the current virtual reality headsets are going to win any beauty contests. They are bulky, awkward, clunky and not in the least bit sexy. What VR sells is the visual world you get after the behemoth headsets are on. 2016-08-17 05:41 2KB www.thedrum.com 33 A Tale of Two Disasters It started on Thursday evening of last week and didn’t end until Sunday morning, about 60 hours’ worth of non-stop rain in Biblical... 2016-08-17 05:21 6KB spectator.org 34 Local ‘Times’ Misses the Story Again “Barred from Fla. Voting,” the top of page 1A headline of Monday’s Tampa Bay Times sobs above a whiney story about the fact Florida... 2016-08-17 05:21 2KB spectator.org 35 Public University Unveils Transgender Bathroom Policy The University of South Alabama will adopt a new bathroom policy which allows students to use whichever bathroom aligns with their gender identity. Starting this fall semester, all restrooms and ch 2016-08-17 05:21 1KB dailycaller.com 36 Boston Globe Calls For Hillary To Close Clinton Foundation The Boston Globe has called for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to immediately cut donations to the Clinton Foundation, and then shut down the non-profit if she becomes president. "Although t 2016-08-17 05:21 2KB dailycaller.com 37 Pentagon Skimmed $147B Off War Fund For Basic Operations The Department of Defense (DOD) moved more than $146 billion over six years from its war readiness fund to pay for basic military operations. Between 2009 and 2015, the DOD spent $146.9 billion 2016-08-17 05:21 4KB dailycaller.com 38 VA's Army Of Bored Interior Designers Can't Stop Decorating A Republican congressman is going after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for having almost 200 full-time interior designers. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller thinks 2016-08-17 05:21 4KB dailycaller.com 39 Pro-Palestinian Group Compiling Names Of Jewish Collegians A U. S. based pro-Palestinian organization is collecting names of Jewish students on college campuses across North America, reports Israel Radio. Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is reportedl 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB dailycaller.com 40 Conservatives Want Apology After Activists Chase Ayotte A conservative group demanded an apology Tuesday from the leader of a prominent environmental group after its members wore Republican nominee Donald Trump masks while hounding a GOP lawmaker. Ameri 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB dailycaller.com

41 Trump To Start Running First TV Ads In General Election Republican nominee Donald Trump is expected to run his first campaign ads since the primary. His polling numbers have taken a dive in several key states in recent weeks. The ad push will kick off 2016-08-17 05:21 1KB dailycaller.com 42 Bloomberg View Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news... 2016-08-16 17:22 1KB www.bloomberg.com 43 Top Public Servants Will Soon Get Wall Street-Style Bonuses The top "1 percent" of the federal civil service will be eligible for much bigger pay bonuses next year, according to a new Office of Personnel Management (OPM) advisory. Agencies can now give bo 2016-08-17 05:21 5KB dailycaller.com 44 FCC May Investigate Baltimore PD For Tracking Cell Phones The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received a civil complaint from civil liberties organizations asking the federal agency to investigate Baltimore Police Department's use of cellphone tracki 2016-08-17 05:21 2KB dailycaller.com 45 Australia Law Enforcement Hacks MASSIVE Child Porn Club Australia authorities hacked U. S. Internet users in order to identify and apprehend people who were partaking in a child pornography exchange website. The dark web child abuse site known as "The Lo 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB dailycaller.com 46 NASA Wants To Build Space Station Around Mars By 2028 NASA wants to put a large space station in orbit above Mars by 2028, according to plans outlined by Lockheed Martin. Astronauts will live aboard this "Mars Base Camp" for about a year to collect in 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB dailycaller.com 47 South Sudan Soldiers Gang-Rape American Aid Workers A contingent of United Nations peacekeepers and the U. S. embassy failed to respond to multiple calls for help from a group of aid workers under attack in South Sudan, according to an Associated Press 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB dailycaller.com

48 Former U. S. Attorney Hosted Fundraisers A former U. S. attorney violated Department of Justice (DOJ) policy, executive branch ethical standards, and possibly the Hatch Act when he hosted political fundraisers for Democrats at his home, a new 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB dailycaller.com 49 North Carolina's Last Chance To Save Its Voter ID Law North Carolina has filed an emergency petition at the Supreme Court to salvage its voter identification law. The brief comes over two weeks after the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit st 2016-08-17 05:21 4KB dailycaller.com 50 Ellen DeGeneres Defends Herself Against Critics Of Bolt Meme Ellen DeGeneres defended herself against critics who accused her of being racist after she shared a photoshopped picture of Usain Bolt. On Tuesday, the 58-year-old talk show host hit back after sha 2016-08-17 05:21 1KB dailycaller.com 51 Study: 65% Of White Americans Would Love A Trumpist Party Those hoping Donald Trump losing the presidential election will vanquish his political movement may be in for some bad news, if one new study is proven right. Justin Gest, a public policy professor 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB dailycaller.com 52 Soros Took Credit For Senate Passing Immigration Reform Bill Left-wing billionaire George Soros' non-profit network, the Open Society Foundations (OSF), is confident about the future success of its work in the field of immigration activism and may embark on a m 2016-08-17 05:21 5KB dailycaller.com 53 14 Of Kaley Cuoco's Best Looks [SLIDESHOW] The beautiful Big Bang Theory actress is one of television's biggest stars. Here's a side of Kaley you don't see enough of on- screen, all captured in these 14 photos. [dc_slideshow] 2016-08-17 05:21 725Bytes dailycaller.com

54 Harvard Allows Women To Evade Single- Sex Club Ban Harvard University has assured a women-only off-campus club it will be allowed to ignore a ban on single-sex club membership, as long as it makes a cosmetic change to its bylaws. It has not extended t 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB dailycaller.com 55 Council Clears Last Hurdle to Get Bonds on Ballot KMorgan 1379 posts 2016-08-17 05:21 6KB www.thetribunepapers.com 56 Silicon Valley tech companies make strides to encourage voter turnout in November And for many Silicon Valley techies there will be no excuses — such as a pesky job to report to — to keep them from the polls this year. 2016-08-17 05:40 2KB www.thedrum.com 57 Native Americans plan to make history in the US election Participation in the 2016 US presidential election by Native Americans is breaking records. What does it mean? 2016-08-17 05:21 6KB www.bbc.co.uk 58 Crimea crisis: Ukraine-Russia tensions spill on to the beach The war of words between Russia and Ukraine has disturbed the tranquillity for many holidaymakers in Crimea. 2016-08-17 05:21 4KB www.bbc.co.uk 59 My friend the North Korean defector As reports emerge that a diplomat at the North Korean embassy in London has defected, the BBC's Korea correspondent Steve Evans wonders if he knew the man. 2016-08-17 05:21 5KB www.bbc.co.uk 60 Newspaper headlines: Radical cleric Choudary guilty and Laura Trott's fourth gold Wednesday's front pages focus on the conviction of radical cleric Anjem Choudary and Laura Trott's fourth Olympic gold medal. 2016-08-17 05:21 811Bytes www.bbc.co.uk 61 Meningitis W: Students urged to get vaccine Young people starting at university or college in September are being urged to get a vaccine against meningitis. 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB www.bbc.co.uk 62 Tax avoidance: Accountants face tougher penalties Accountants or advisers who help people bend the rules to gain a tax advantage never intended face tougher fines under new rules proposed by the Treasury. 2016-08-17 05:21 3KB www.bbc.co.uk 63 Did Daphne du Maurier predict Brexit? Breaking apart from Europe, resentment towards Westminster elites, financial uncertainty - sound familiar? Back in 1972, before the UK had even joined the Common Market, Daphne du Maurier had anticipated it all in her novel Rule Britannia. So how much did she get right? 2016-08-17 05:21 5KB www.bbc.co.uk 64 Locals divided over Druridge Bay coal mine Plans to develop an opencast coal mine in Northumberland have split locals - some support the jobs created under the scheme, while others are concerned about the impact on tourism. 2016-08-17 05:21 7KB www.bbc.co.uk 65 Delivery anywhere: Why cost and speed are not enough for online orders There was a time when pizza was the only product that could feasibly be delivered in 30 minutes or less. 2016-08-17 05:40 9KB www.thedrum.com 66 China censorship: How a moderate magazine was targeted A distinguished, if somewhat dry, history magazine finds itself the latest - seemingly unlikely - target of the Chinese government, reports the BBC's John Sudworth. 2016-08-17 05:20 4KB www.bbc.co.uk 67 'I found my dad on Facebook' How a simple post on social media ended a Russian woman's 40- year search for her father. 2016-08-17 05:20 6KB www.bbc.co.uk 68 Letter from Africa: Custody battle after Boko Haram child kidnap In our series of letters by African journalists, Nigerian novelist and writer Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani looks a mother’s desperate battle to recover her kidnapped toddler. 2016-08-17 05:20 5KB www.bbc.co.uk 69 Son of drug lord 'El Chapo' Guzman kidnapped in Mexico A son of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was among Mexican criminals seized by gunmen at a restaurant on Monday, officials say. 2016-08-17 05:20 2KB www.bbc.co.uk

70 The surreal investigations into Thailand's unresolved bombings If the investigation of last week's multiple bomb attacks in southern Thailand follows the pattern of that into the bombing of the Erawan Shine in Bangkok, we are in for a surreal ride. 2016-08-17 05:20 7KB www.bbc.co.uk 71 Donald Trump defends Milwaukee police shooting Republican Donald Trump says initial evidence suggests the fatal shooting of a black man by police in Wisconsin on Saturday was justified. 2016-08-17 05:20 2KB www.bbc.co.uk 72 Rio Olympics 2016: US and NZ runners help each other An American and a New Zealander are praised after stopping mid- race to help each other after the two fell during the 5,000-metre race. 2016-08-17 05:21 2KB www.bbc.co.uk 73 American may face charges for spearing Canadian bear Officials in Canada's Alberta province say they plan to ban spear hunting after an American posted a video of himself impaling a black bear. 2016-08-17 05:20 2KB www.bbc.co.uk 74 Burkini beach row puts French values to test French commentator Agnes Poirier argues that the controversy over burkini beach bans raises tough questions about national unity and women's emancipation. 2016-08-17 05:20 4KB www.bbc.co.uk 75 NGO calls on supporters of Israel to stand strong against Sussiya Regavim is a watch-dog group that monitors illegal Palestinian construction and has been one of the petitioners to the High Court of Justice against the village. 2016-08-17 04:57 3KB www.jpost.com 76 Leaving Albania behind: My search for freedom In 1991, thousands of Albanians seized a boat in Durrës and sailed to Italy. Robert Budina was one of them. 2016-08-17 03:44 1KB www.bbc.co.uk 77 Sunette qualifies for javelin final, but SA's other athletes crash out With just one attempt Sunette Viljoen qualified for the women’s javelin final at the Rio Olympics on Thursday night. 2016-08-17 03:41 3KB www.timeslive.co.za 78 Coal ship crew stranded without food or fuel off Australia's east coast Five Stars Fujian’s crew have told Australian authorities wages had not been paid since May and they do not have enough food or fuel to reach China 2016-08-17 03:01 3KB www.theguardian.com 79 Guinea protest against President Conde leaves one dead – reports Man reportedly shot by police as an estimated half a million people join opposition rallies to denounce Alpha Conde’s management of the economy 2016-08-17 02:58 3KB www.theguardian.com 80 The multicoloured wonders of Atauro Island – in pictures A Conservation International team has counted a total of 642 species of reef fish in the waters around Atauro Island – more per site than any other place on the planet 2016-08-17 02:45 1KB www.theguardian.com 81 Atauro Island: scientists discover the most biodiverse waters in the world Conservation International finds 643 species around Timor-Leste island, some of which are believed to be entirely new 2016-08-17 02:45 6KB www.theguardian.com 82 Scientists make final call on 'chemtrails' Contact WND WASHINGTON – You’ve seen the contrails behind those high- flying jets – sometimes making crisscrossing patterns in the sky – above your home, your town, your city. And you’ve heard the rumors. The government is spraying toxic chemicals, gene-altering concoctions, testing weapons of... 2016-08-17 02:36 3KB www.wnd.com 83 U. S. alarm: 'Unprecedented demonic outpouring' Contact WND They hailed from all Christian denominations and backgrounds, coming by the hundreds to defend their faith. More than a thousand Christians rallied in Oklahoma City to protest a long- scheduled blasphemous ceremony designed to mock Mary, the mother of Jesus. Though the “black mass” ritual took... 2016-08-17 02:35 8KB www.wnd.com

90 Russia launches airstrikes on Syria from airbase in Iran Russian bombers began flying missions over Syria from an Iranian airbase yesterday, the first time the Islamic Republic has allowed a foreign power to conduct military operations from i 2016-08-17 02:30 3KB www.independent.ie 91 Death toll hits eight in catastrophic US floods An act of God is how some are describing the catastrophic 48-hour torrent of rain that sent thousands scrambling for safety in Louisiana - and left many wondering how a region accustome 2016-08-17 02:30 2KB www.independent.ie 92 Trump's policy 'absolutely bewilders me', says Clinton Hillary Clinton has a six-percentage-point lead over Republican rival Donald Trump, according to a Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll released yesterday. 2016-08-17 02:30 3KB www.independent.ie 93 Boffins find flaw in always looking on bright side of life The widely held view that people naturally look on the bright side of life may be wrong, say psychologists. 2016-08-17 02:30 3KB www.independent.ie 94 Japanese photographer who clones women Daisuke Takakura's project "Monodramatic" introduces us to a world where multiple versions of ourselves meet. 2016-08-17 02:28 1KB rss.cnn.com 95 Dennis Ross doubts Obama will push UN resolution Ross said he did not know what to expect regarding US involvement in the diplomatic process if Republican candidate Donald Trump would win the elections. 2016-08-17 02:28 5KB www.jpost.com 96 Rape case from the past casts pallor on 'Birth of a Nation' LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 17-year-old rape accusation and recent reports that the female accuser who continued to be haunted by the case committed suicide in 2012... 2016-08-17 02:28 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk

97 UC Berkeley head resigns after criticism over response to sexual harassment Chancellor Nicholas Dirks is the latest high-profile administrator to step down at the elite college, which has been at the center of several scandals 2016-08-17 02:25 5KB www.theguardian.com 98 These family photos will make you rethink relationships A new exhibition explores how family photos -- from the ordinary to the absurd -- determine how we think about our own relationships. 2016-08-17 02:25 5KB rss.cnn.com 99 Kate Upton shows off her toned legs in tiny shorts as she takes a hike with her pet pooch Harley The 24-year-old model showed off her long slender legs in short shorts and a tank top as she enjoyed the sunshine. 2016-08-17 02:23 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 100 Jesinta Campbell leaves NOTHING to the imagination as she flaunts her white bra in a completely see-through lace blouse She is known for her risque fashion choices. 2016-08-17 02:22 976Bytes www.dailymail.co.uk Articles

Total 100 articles, created at 2016-08-17 06:00

1 Univision Wins In The Bidding War To Buy Gawker Media (2.04/3) It’s over. Univision has emerged as the winner of the contest to buy Gawker Media. Second in the fight was Ziff Davis. Univision ultimately agreed to buy Gawker ‘s seven sites for $135 million. Recode broke the news. The sale happened in an auction Tuesday. It may not be the bore that it sounds under Univision’s umbrella — after all, the company also owns The Onion . According to media reports, a U. S. bankruptcy judge will have to cement the deal. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday. Gawker founder Nick Denton told CNN Money, “We could not have picked an acquirer more devoted to vibrant journalism.” Earlier in the day on Twitter, he boasted about Gawker Media ‘s online traffic. So far, the reaction seems pretty positive. “In all seriousness, Univision + Gawker seems like a good match and a decent end to the awful Thiel saga,” Vox Executive Editor Matthew Yglesias wrote on Twitter. More emotion came from Gizmodo writer Matt Novak who wrote, “Apropos of nothing, I’d just like to say with all sincerity that working for Gawker Media and Gizmodo has been the best job I’ve ever had.” But now is as good a time as any to dump on Peter Thiel, who funded Hulk Hogan ‘s lawsuit that ultimately led to Denton having to file for bankruptcy and put Gawker Media up for sale. “One more time: It’s okay to be critical of some of the things Gawker published, but still believe that what Peter Thiel did was wrong,” wrote Fortune mag’s Mathew Ingram .

Univision buys Gawker for $135m thedrum.com

Gawker Media sold to Univision in bankruptcy auction bbc.co.uk 2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

2 Walkers 'Spell and Go' holiday competition falls foul of ASA ban (1.02/3) Walkers has landed itself in hot water over the online element of its popular 'Spell & Go' competition which offered customers the chance to win a free holiday. Marketing material hosted on the crisp brand's website has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority following hundreds of complaints from members of the public around various elements of the competition, which was marketed by AMV BBDO. In total 112 shoppers complained to the watchdog about Walkers' contest, in which participants were required to spell out the name of destinations for an opportunity to win one of 20,000 holidays. Not all of these objections were with Walkers' site – some were related to Facebook promotions, on- pack marketing, Twitter ads and TV spots – but the digital element of the competition is what courted a ban from the regulator. The complaint upheld by the ASA focused on whether the brand had dealt fairly "and honourably" with participants, who believed that certain letters were needed to spell out the holiday destinations and qualify for the prizes. All 26 potential prize destinations in the completion included at least one of Walkers' 'Type One' letters (C, D or K) while the remaining letters, 'Type Two' were less rare. A 'Random Swap' function on Walkers' site, which enabled participants to swap up to five of their collected letters with alternative randomly-generated characters contained only Type Two letters, something the watchdog dubbed "misleading" since promo text on Walkers' website stated: "A Random Swap means that you can swap any letter that you don’t need for a randomly generated letter […] you’ll then receive a random letter that will appear in your dashboard. " Meanwhile, a relevant section of the terms and conditions of the promotion (also available via the website) stated: "A new letter is selected at random from a ‘pool’ of letters that are stored in a database [...] this swap is instant and all letters are treated equally. " The ASA said consumers were likely to infer from that that consumers would understand from both statements that the Random Swap pool included both types of letters, not just Type Two characters. The omission of that significant condition from the references to the Random Swap mechanism in ad was misleading and likely to "cause unnecessary disappointment to consumers," said the ASA. While the promotion has now ended, Walkers was warned not to show the marketing again in its current form, and advised that in similar future promotions the brand ensured that significant conditions for all were communicated to consumers. Walkers crisps competition advert banned by watchdog bbc.co.uk 2016-08-17 05:42 www.thedrum.com

3 Maryland's Ten Commandments Contact WND (0.02/3) Years ago, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore’s monument to the Ten Commandments, the foundation for the law in the United States, cost him his job, even though voters put him back in the same position the first chance they had. In Oklahoma, a judge said the monument had to go; in Texas it was all right. In schools, it’s forbidden, in other government buildings, it’s allowed sometimes. The U. S. Supreme Court has said it’s all right to have, and now in Maryland, it will be staying. Officials with the Alliance Defending Freedom had been fighting to keep a copy of God’s laws at the Allegany County courthouse, and they confirmed on Tuesday that the “offended person” who sued to remove it dropped his legal complaint. ADF and Jones Day lawyers represented the county commissioners and in June had asked that the case be dismissed. Now Jeffrey Davis, who lives in the next county but owns property in Allegany County, has voluntarily dropped the case. He didn’t give a reason. “The Evidence Bible” is now available and includes, besides the King James version, dozens of articles expanding answers to questions such as why is there suffering, explanations about what Muslims believe and scientific facts written millennia before man discovered them. “The emotional response of an offended passerby doesn’t automatically amount to a violation of the Establishment Clause,” said Brett Harvey. He’s senior counsel to the ADF. “Mr. Davis was right to end his quest to uproot this monument, which is virtually identical to a monument in Texas that the U. S. Supreme Court already upheld. “Because the county’s monument would survive constitutial scrutiny, we are pleased that it will be able to stay,” Harvey said. Davis’ motion, which was approved by the court, said, “I voluntarily dismiss this lawsuit pursuant to federal rule of civil procedure 41(a)(1)(A)9i). Such dismissal shall be without prejudice, with each side to bear its own costs and fees.” It was signed by Judge George Russell. The Ten Commandments monument at issue was donated in 1957 by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. It stands not far from a monument to George Washington. In 2005, the U. S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of another, nearly identical, monument, also from the Eagles, on the grounds of the Texas Capitol. That, the court said, did not violate the Establishment Clause. In fact, in its 2014 ruling in another case, Town of Greece v. Galloway, “the Supreme Court questioned the legitimacy of ‘offended observer’ claims, saying that adults ‘often encounter speech they find disagreeable; and an Establishment Clause violation is not made out any time a person experiences a sense of affront from the expression of contrary religious views….'” Harvey had noted, “A passive monument acknowledging our nation’s religious heritage resting unchallenged for nearly 60 years cannot be interpreted as the government establishing a religion.” Years earlier, Moore was removed from office after a lower court ordered him to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments from public property in Alabama, and he declined. He later was voted back into the same position by voters in the state. “The Evidence Bible” is now available and includes, besides the King James version, dozens of articles expanding answers to questions such as why is there suffering, explanations about what Muslims believe and scientific facts written millennia before man discovered them.

The Big Fix Contact WND wnd.com

So how did the Clintons get so rich? Contact WND wnd.com 2016-08-17 02:35 Bob Unruh www.wnd.com

4 New refugee crisis 'to explode thanks to Hillary' Contact WND (0.01/3) One of the leading human rights voices in the United States says Nigeria is becoming badly destabilized due to the rampage of terrorist groups, and a fragmenting of the population there could trigger a refugee crisis in the West that would make the current infusion of refugees pale in comparison. Former Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., is now a distinguished senior fellow at the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative. He was part of a delegation from the group that visited Nigeria earlier this year and concluded the country is in grave danger of collapse while the people there feel as though the rest of the world has abandoned them. Wolf said that is being proved again in recent days as the world barely notices a video showing some of the 276 Christian schoolgirls abducted more than two years ago. The video depicts one girl pleading with the Nigerian government to release Boko Haram fighters from prison as the only way for her and the other girls to be released. “The girls were kidnapped two years ago in April and there was such a hue and cry. If you recall the #BringBackOurGirls. Mrs. Obama did that. Former Prime Minister David Cameron did one in England. Then, all of a sudden, people have all forgotten about them,” Wolf said in an interview with WND and Radio America. Like the reporting you see here? Sign up for free news alerts from WND.com, America’s independent news network. Media coverage in the West has been dominated this year by ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks and the U. S. presidential race. But does that mean Boko Haram is any less brutal to the people of Nigeria? Wolf said it’s far worse than anyone realizes. “No, Boko Haram is the most dangerous terrorist group in the world. Second most dangerous is ISIS,” Wolf said. “They’re killing Christians. They’re burning churches. They’re even burning mosques.” One of the worst attacks in recent months came during the 21st Century Wilberforce trip to Nigeria. “The week we were there, in the village of Agatu, they killed about 200 people,” Wolf said. “They came in helicopters and motorized boats. So no, they are the most dangerous, and they’ve pledged allegiance to ISIS.” Listen to the WND/Radio America interview with former Rep. Frank Wolf, R- Va.: Wolf said he and many others fear a a major destabilizing of Nigeria and its neighbors could be horrific for Western civilization. “The impact the Syrian refugees have had in Europe, in Germany, in France, has been unbelievable. It’s been very, very negative,” said Wolf, nothing that Syria’s population was about 25 million. “Nigeria has 180 million people,” he said. “The Irish rock star Bono said a couple of months ago if Nigeria fragments and breaks apart, the impact in Europe will be an existential threat.” On top of the mess in Nigeria itself, he said chaos there would trigger refugee migrations from neighboring countries. “Plus, you have all the people in Cameroon, you’ve got the people in Chad, you’ve got the people in Benin, you’ve got people in the so-called Lake Chad region. It’s probably over 200 million people, so the impact on the West will actually be greater,” Wolf said. Could the U. S. have done something about this years ago? Wolf said yes, and he said Hillary Clinton is a big reason why Boko Haram was given space to grow. “They needed to move quickly. It was a failure of the administration, particularly Secretary Clinton, to designate them as a terrorist group,” Wolf said. “The FBI wanted to call them a terrorist group. The CIA wanted to call them a terrorist group. AFRICOM wanted to call them a terrorist group. But Hillary Clinton didn’t want to call them a terrorist group. That lost time has set this issue back.” The free WND special report, “ISIS Rising,” by Middle East expert and former Department of Defense analyst Michael Maloof, will answer your questions about the jihadist army threatening the West. Wolf said the U. S. has done virtually nothing beyond the hashtag campaign since the schoolgirls were abducted, and he said that actually made things worse. “It seemed like a good idea, but I actually think it’s been a bad idea because it’s given more attention to the girls and made them more valuable as hostages,” Wolf said. Wolf chastises Western Christian churches for effectively abandoning Nigerian believers in their time of persecution. He also blasts the Obama administration for not appointing a special envoy to oversee the U. S. response to the crisis and coordinating effective aid and counter-terrorism strategies. He said the White House has completely ignored the request, even though the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative is recommending former Rep. Tony Hall, D-Ohio, for the job. “We’ve just gotten thank-you notes for the letters but no activity,” Wolf said. “The real danger is that the closing months of an administration, nothing happens. Everyone is looking for jobs. If something isn’t done by the administration sometime in September, it probably will not be done.” New at summer camp! Practice executions Contact WND wnd.com 2016-08-17 02:34 Greg Corombos www.wnd.com

5 Zuma opens the curtain on South African presidential funerals The balustrades and pillars of the Union Buildings and the City Hall of the capital city must be draped with a black cloth. A commemorative plaque indicating funeral details and the place of burial must be affixed to a wall at a designated place. These rules of how a presidential funeral must be handled were disclosed on Tuesday by President Jacob Zuma‚ who has published the State‚ Official and Provincial Funeral Policy Manual. The manual designates various state-funded funerals. State Funeral Category 1 is reserved for the President of the Republic of South Africa‚ the President-elect and former Presidents. There are also rules for presidential spouses. Official Funerals are for serving Ministers‚ the Chief Justice‚ provincial premiers and “distinguished persons”. In the case of a presidential funeral‚ the manual states: - The remains will lie-in-state at the Union Buildings Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre. This will not preclude the President or Acting President of the Republic of South Africa from declaring other appropriate centres for the same purpose‚ if necessary‚ or that the remains would not lie-in-state. The President or Acting President shall determine the length of the period for the lying-in-state. - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) shall deploy a Guard of Honour for the arrival and removal of the remains from the venue of the lying-in-state. - SANDF sentries shall be posted to guard the remains continuously – A State Memorial Service shall be held at the City Hall of the Capital City and Seat of Government. The President may grant exceptions to this‚ based on logistics or any other considerations. The manual states that “reasonable costs” of the funerals will be borne by the government departments related to the services they are expected to offer‚ such as funeral undertaker costs and limited catering for the family and official State guests. A special aide appointed by the director general in the presidency will be responsible for finding out the wishes of the next-of-kin‚ including the grave site‚ the type of service preferred‚ and choice of pall-bearers. A special operations team must be set up to co-ordinate the funeral and liaise with the family‚ reporting directly to the incumbent president. Diplomats must co-ordinate arrangements for VIP mourners. The detailed manual even specifies the size of the funeral programme. It states this "shall be an A4 folded to an A5 size‚ printed on appropriate paper‚ including an obituary‚ photograph of the deceased‚ and the details of the programme". See the full manual here.

2016-08-17 06:00 TMG Digital www.timeslive.co.za

6 Nursing and Allied Health Job Fair, Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Nursing and Allied Health Job Fair Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Newton Marriott 2345 Commonwealth Ave., Newton 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Job Seekers Don’t miss this exciting opportunity The Boston Herald is hosting its bi-annual Nursing and Health Job Fair Tuesday, August 23rd. Companies from the Greater Boston area will be in attendance looking for candidates to fill positions in the healthcare field, including, but not limited to registered nurses, licensed social workers, occupational therapists, and more! Look for a special pull-out section on Monday, August 22nd in the Boston Herald for all the information you will need to make the job fair a success for you. There is no cost or obligation for attending. Proper attire is suggested. Please call 617-619- 6168 with any questions or concerns. Following is a list of companies participating in the Tuesday, August 23rd, Nursing and Allied Health Job Fair: Arbour Hospital Bay Cove Human Services Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center DaVita Eliot Community Human Services Functional Pathways New Life Counseling & Wellness Center Northeast Clinical Services, Inc. Northeastern University School of Nursing South Bay Community Services Tara Vista Behavioral Health Center The Edinburg Center Tufts Health Plan Vinfen VNA Care/VNA Boston Wingate Healthcare and more… 2016-08-17 06:00 www.bostonherald.com

7 #WalangPasok: List of class suspensions for Wednesday, Aug. 17 (Updated) Some local government units on Tuesday declared class suspensions as inclement weather continues to affect some provinces in Luzon. Classes in the following areas were suspended for Wednesday, August 17: Metro Manila Abra (all levels) Bataan Bulacan Ilocos Sur Nueva Ecija Pampanga province Pangasinan Tarlac (all levels) Keep visiting this page for updates. JE/KS/rga

2016-08-17 06:00 newsinfo.inquirer.net

8 More than 82,000 people flee Southern California wildfire LOS ANGELES — A new wildfire spread Tuesday at a staggering pace in every direction through drought parched canyons east of Los Angeles, growing to 14 square miles in a matter of hours and forcing the evacuation of more than 82,000 of people from mountain communities. The blaze in Cajon Pass caused serious problems for a swath of mountain communities. About 82,500 people from some 34,500 homes were under mandatory evacuation orders, San Bernardino County fire spokesman Eric Sherwin said. Some structures had already burned but it wasn’t yet clear whether they were homes. READ: California town decimated by wildfire; 175 homes burn Evacuated areas included the ski-resort town of Wrightwood, where some 4,500 people live. The flames also forced the shutdown of a section of Interstate 15, the main highway between Southern California and Las Vegas. As that fire surged, a major blaze north of San Francisco was fading and some 4,000 people in the town of Clearlake were allowed to return home. Their relief, however, was tempered with anger at a man who authorities believe set the blaze that wiped out several blocks of a small town over the weekend along with 16 smaller fires dating back to last summer. The wildfires were the latest in a weekslong stretch of heat- and drought- driven fires across California that raged well before the official start of wildfire season in early autumn. Blue Mountain Farms, a horse ranch in Phelan, was in the path of the fire about 60 miles east of Los Angeles — just as it was for another fire in the area a year ago. “Breathing smoke again, just like last year,” Shannon Anderson, a partner in the ranch, said as she panted into the telephone. “It’s raining ash.” Ranch hands used hoses to wet down fences and anything else that could burn. Six firefighters protecting homes were briefly trapped by flames and in serious danger before they took shelter in a safe structure, the San Bernardino County Fire Department said in a statement. Two sustained minor injuries and were quickly treated and released from a hospital. Investigators in Northern California said Tuesday they had been building a case against the suspected arsonist, 40-year-old construction worker Damin Anthony Pashilk, for more than a year but did not have enough evidence to make an arrest until the weekend blaze ripped through Lower Lake. Nearly a decade ago, Pashilk was an inmate firefighter while serving time on drug possession and firearms charges, according to California corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters. He was completing a five-year sentence when he was assigned to fight wildfires for four months in 2007. The fire destroyed 175 homes, Main Street businesses and other structures in the working-class town of Lower Lake. “What I’d do to him, you don’t want to know,” said Butch Cancilla, who saw his neighbor’s home catch fire as he fled on Sunday. Cancilla still doesn’t know the fate of his own home and spoke at a center for evacuees set up at a high school. “A lot of people want to hang him high,” his wife, Jennie, added. Pashilk has not been implicated in any of the three huge blazes that destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Lake County last summer. Little was known about him, other than his history of drug and driving offenses dating back a decade. “I’m hoping, I’m praying that the man has mental illness — because if it’s not mental illness, then it’s evil,” said Diana Bundesen, who was at the evacuation center after fleeing Clearlake. The town was near the site where the fire began. Neither the California Department of Forestry, which led the investigation that resulted in Pashilk’s arrest Monday, nor the Lake County sheriff or district attorney would discuss what led authorities to him. “Arson investigations are complex and difficult. The evidence standards are stringent,” forestry department spokeswoman Janet Upton said. “They have to build a case that is going to be successful, it’s complex.” An attorney listed as representing Pashilk did not return a call requesting comment. Pashilk is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday. Roughly 1,600 firefighters were making progress on the blaze as it burned through wilderness. It was 20 percent contained. In central California, a wildfire near Lake Nacimiento destroyed 12 structures, damaged others and threatened 200 homes. It was 10 percent contained after growing to 10 square miles and forcing authorities to evacuate some residents by boat. 2016-08-17 06:00 Associated Press newsinfo.inquirer.net

9 North Korea calls South’s leader ‘psychopath’ over missile row SEOUL—North Korea on Wednesday labelled South Korean President Park Geun-Hye a “psychopath” after she made a speech slamming Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions and defending the deployment of a US anti-missile system. In her televised address on Monday, Park had stressed that deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was an act of “self-defense” in response to the North’s expanding nuclear weapons program. READ: Better THAAD than dead A spokesman for the North’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country said Park’s argument was “preposterous” and unfounded. “This is just a lame excuse and she should know that no one will be taken in by such sophism of a puppet that can do nothing without an approval of her US master,” the spokesman said. “This is no more than nonsense talked by a psychopath,” he added in a statement carried by the North’s official KCNA news agency. North Korea has threatened to take “physical action” against the THAAD deployment, saying any South Korean ports and airfields hosting US military hardware would become a target. READ: North Korea to take ‘physical action’ over US anti-missile system Beijing is also opposed to the move, seeing it as a US bid to flex its military muscle in the region and undermine China’s own missile capabilities. US Army Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, addressed those concerns during talks on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart, General Li Zuocheng in Beijing. THAAD is “not a threat in any way to China,” Milley told Li according to a US Army statement. Deploying the system “is a defensive measure to protect South Koreans and Americans from the North Korean ballistic missile threat,” he added. Milley was due to hold talks with top South Korean military officials in Seoul on Wednesday.

2016-08-17 06:00 Agence France newsinfo.inquirer.net

10 US Navy names ship after gay rights advocate Harvey Milk WASHINGTON — The Navy is naming a ship in honor of the late gay rights leader Harvey Milk, who served in the Navy for four years before he began a career in San Francisco city government. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said Tuesday that Milk displayed tremendous courage fighting for the rights of the LGBT community. The ship is one of a new fleet of replenishment oilers that will be built in San Diego. Milk’s career as a Navy officer, however, ended with an “other than honorable” discharge, due to allegations of fraternization with enlisted personnel. Some argue that Milk was forced out of the military because he was gay. A defense official said Tuesday that Milk accepted the other than honorable discharge to avoid possible disciplinary action. Fraternization with enlisted personnel by an officer is against military regulations — whether they are the same or different genders. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, and spoke on condition of anonymity. The ban on gays serving openly in the US military was formally ended in September 2011. Milk became one of the first openly gay candidates elected to public office. He was serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978 when a former political colleague, Dan White, assassinated him and Mayor George Moscone at City Hall. Mabus said Milk “offered hope for millions of Americans who were being ostracized and prosecuted just for who they loved.” Speaking in San Francisco during the announcement, Mabus said it was important to honor those like Milk who have fought in a different way, battling — and sometimes dying — for freedom and equality. Chad Griffin, the president of the advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign, lauded the Navy honor for Milk, calling it “further evidence of the profound progress on LGBTQ equality we continue to make as a nation.” “In his bold and unabashed advocacy, Milk inspired LGBTQ people for generations,” Griffin said in a statement. Five other replenishment oilers will bear the names of civil and human rights leaders: Sojourner Truth, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Robert F. Kennedy, suffragist Lucy Stone and Rep. John Lewis of Georgia. RELATED STORIES US military to lift transgender ban—media U. S. Senate appoints first openly gay army secretary

2016-08-17 06:00 Associated Press newsinfo.inquirer.net

11 Argentine cancer survivor wins Olympic sailing gold at 54 RIO DE JANEIRO — Santiago Lange lost count of how many times he broke down during the celebration on the shore of Guanabara Bay, where one of the more remarkable stories of the Olympics played out. “It was many,” said Lange, a 54-year-old Argentine who became the oldest medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Games. Lange, a cancer survivor and six-time Olympian, and crewmember Cecilia Carranza Saroli won the first Olympic gold medal in the Nacra 17 mixed catamaran class Tuesday at the sailing regatta. What followed at Flamengo Beach were unending rounds of group hugs, handshakes and backslaps. And, yes, go ahead and cry along with him, Argentina. “These whole games have been incredible for me,” said Lange, who marched alongside sons Yago and Klaus during the opening ceremony. “They’ve been a very emotional games. Watching the racing of my sons, and my sons watching my racing, and today celebrating with them. It’s just been too much for me.” Already a two-time bronze medalist in the discontinued Tornado catamaran class, Santiago was the most popular guy in the boat basin. As he and Saroli came to shore, his sons, who sail in the 49er class, jumped into the water to greet them. “My children swam to the ship,” Lange said. “They had a regatta yesterday and were disqualified unjustly. If not they’d be fighting for a medal. So, what more can you ask from life?” The shore-side celebration lasted for several minutes, with several people waving Argentine flags. They’d probably still be standing in the surf if it weren’t for media obligations and the medal ceremony. After receiving his gold medal, Lange hopped off the podium and ran over to hug his sons. Lange had to beat lung cancer before he had a chance to beat the fleet. He was diagnosed last year and had his left lung removed. “I was very lucky to find it,” Lange said. “Probably if I wasn’t travelling so much and wasn’t so tired it wouldn’t have been found. I see myself as very lucky.” Lange and Saroli won the gold after finishing sixth in the medal race, rallying from last after being penalized at the start. They took the gold by just one point over Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin of Australia. Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank of Austria won the bronze. Zajac said other sailors sometimes joke about Lange being “the old man. But he’s shown everyone. He’s here.” On the busiest day of the regatta, Caleb Paine won the Finn class medal race and took the bronze, the first sailing medal for the United States at the Rio Games. Britain’s Giles Scott had clinched the gold two days earlier. Silver went to Vasilij Zbogar of Slovenia. “That’s pretty awesome. I was thinking about that today, and adding to the U. S. medal count is pretty cool and I’m excited about that,” Paine said. The Americans lead the all-time Olympic sailing medals table with 60. They were whitewashed at the London Games, failing to win an Olympic sailing medal for the first time since 1936. “I’ve worked for this for a long time and I’ve been sailing for a very long time, so for good things to come together at the right time is what it’s all about,” said Paine, who beat 2008 silver medalist Zach Railey during the selection process. “I’m happy to come away with a third but look forward to maybe down the line coming back again and going for gold.” Three other gold medals were decided. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke of New Zealand clinched the 49er gold with a race to spare, capping a dominating four years in which their only loss came in a Rio regatta last month. The silver and bronze will be decided Thursday. “Blair and myself are absolutely stoked,” Burling said. “It’s been a massive four years for us and we’ve really impressive performances along the way. It’s exactly what we wanted to do. We’re just on top of the world at the moment.” The Kiwis have an unassailable 34-point lead over Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel of Germany. Defending gold medalists Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen of Australia are three points back in third. Tom Burton of Australia won the Laser gold medal after escaping from Tonci Stipanovic’s attempt to sail him to the back of the fleet at the start. Stipanovic came in already having been assured of at least the silver. His is the first Olympic sailing medal for Croatia. Bronze went to Sam Meech of New Zealand. Brazil’s Robert Scheidt fell just short in his attempt to become the first sailor and first Brazilian to win six Olympic medals. Although he won the medal race, he finished fourth overall, four points behind Meech. Marit Bouwmeester of the Netherlands won the gold medal in the women’s Laser Radial, upgrading the silver she won in London. Annalise Murphy of Ireland took the silver and Anne-Marie Rindom of Denmark the bronze. Defending bronze medalist Evi Van Acker of Belgium finished fourth. Van Acker fell ill earlier in the regatta and struggled. Her coach said she contracted a severe intestinal infection while training on polluted Guanabara Bay last month. Later Tuesday, Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark of Britain clinched the women’s 470 gold medal with Wednesday’s medal race to spare. They were silver medalists in London. Six teams, including the United States, are in contention for silver and bronze. RELATED STORIES Main ramp collapses at Rio Olympics sailing venue Refugee team bright spot in Rio’s troubled Olympics

2016-08-17 06:00 Associated Press sports.inquirer.net

12 Olympics: Rio boxing embroiled in fresh controversy RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — An Irish amateur world champion accused Olympic boxing of corruption on Tuesday as the sport was embroiled in fresh controversy barely 12 hours after a Russian was booed to the Rio podium. The International Boxing Association (AIBA) vehemently rejected the claims after a seething Michael Conlan was turfed out of the competition in a surprise unanimous points decision to another Russian, the bantamweight Vladimir Nikitin. Towering heavyweight Evgeny Tishchenko won a highly contentious gold on Monday in a judging decision that drew derision and jeers from the enraged 9,000-seat arena, even as the giant Russian collected his medal. Conlan wagged his finger in the air as the judges condemned him to defeat and for a while refused to leave the ring, tearing off his top and flexing his muscles defiantly to a sympathetic crowd, which cheered him in return. Conlan, 24, who had been heavily fancied for a medal in Rio, eventually clambered out of the ring and hurled abuse to at least one of the judges, branding one of them corrupt, while also having strong words with the referee and officials. The irate Irishman struggled to contain his anger after the quarter-final, as a trail of blood trickled down his face. “They’ve robbed me of my Olympic dream,” he said, his face twitching with rage and his voice quivering, tears welling in his eyes. “I said before that I was going to be Olympic champion. I was in first gear and I was boxing the ears off him. I don’t know how it went against me. “I watched Russia last night in the final and by all means Kazakhstan beat him and didn’t get the decision. “The judges are corrupt, it’s as simple as that. I’ll never box in an AIBA competition again… not even Olympic Games. Corruption runs deep.” “He was cut everywhere. Did you see his face? You saw by his reaction that he knew he didn’t win,” Conlan added of Nikitin, whose face was badly mangled and next faces a stern test in Thursday’s semi-final against hot American prospect Shakur Stevenson. – ‘Foundless’ -The allegations were immediately rejected by amateur boxing’s governing body. “Michael is a current world champion and he came here with high expectations,” said an AIBA spokesman. “His disappointment is massive, we can all understand that. It’s his personal judgment. “AIBA is striving for a fair, level playing field. The idea is not to benefit one country towards another. We represent 200 national federations. “These statement are foundless, but he’s free to have his opinion.” Conlan’s defeat means there are no Irish boxers left in Rio, capping a desperately disappointing Games for the Irish team. Veteran British boxing expert Steve Bunce, working for the BBC in Rio, said that under new rules aggrieved fighters cannot appeal. “What happened to Conlan and Levit is heartbreaking and wrong,” he said, referring to Vassiliy Levit, the Kazakh heavyweight who had to settle for silver on Monday after appearing to dominate the bout. The decisions against the pair were “absolute stinkers”, he said. ‘Crazy’ Olympic boxing has ditched the punch-counting method of scoring bouts that in the past threw up numerous controversies and replaced it with judges in a method that replicates professional boxing. But that has not prevented several fighters and coaches in Rio levelling accusations at the AIBA and the judges. On Monday, after watching lightweight Mikaela Mayer suffer defeat in front of a mostly anti-American crowd to another Russian, highly respected US coach Billy Walsh slammed the judging in the bout as “crazy”. And on just the second day of competition in Rio an American-born fighter for Honduras launched an angry tirade after he went down on a debatable unanimous points decision. Teenager Teofimo Lopez accused the AIBA of “stealing my dream”. The AIBA similarly rejected accusations of corruption on that occasion.

2016-08-17 06:00 Agence France sports.inquirer.net

13 Ban on Islam-inspired burkini spreads in France NARBONNE, France — Three resorts in France were poised Tuesday to join three other seaside towns in banning the burkini, the full- body Islamic swimming garment that has sparked concern about religious extremism. Prime Minister Manuel Valls also weighed in on the debate, lashing the wearing of the burkini as “not compatible with the values of France and the Republic” and saying he supported mayors who ban it if they acted in the public good. READ: Muslim girl cannot skip swim class—German court In the southwest, the mayor of the resort town of Leucate, Michel Py, was to sign a municipal decree later Tuesday that would ban the burkini on public beaches, the town hall said. The decree, which runs until August 31, will bar access to public beaches to “any person who is not properly dressed, respectful of moral behavior and secularism, hygiene and bathing safety.” “The wearing of bathing clothes which are associated with these principles is also forbidden,” according to the decree, seen by AFP. Leucate is located on the Mediterranean coast, 35 kilometers (20 miles) from Perpignan. In the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais, the mayor of the Channel town of Oye-Plage said Tuesday he would also move to ban the burkini after seeing a woman wearing “a complete cape and gloves, covering her face and her eyes” as she headed to the beach on Sunday. In the nearby upmarket resort of Le Touquet, local mayor and MP Daniel Fasquelle said he would also implement a burkini ban in the coming days “to fight against religious proselytizing.” “There are no burkinis in Le Touquet at the moment, but I don’t want the town hall to be caught offguard if we are affected by this phenomenon,” Fasquelle told AFP. String of jihadist attacks France has been hit by a string of jihadist attacks over the last 19 months that have left the country on edge and fretting over home-grown religious extremism. Partly as a result, the burkini has become embroiled in a fierce debate about perceived religious symbols and their place in a strongly secular country. To critics, the garment is associated with an intolerant and sectarian strand of Islam. On July 14 Nice was the target of an attack claimed by the Islamic State group when a Tunisian ploughed a truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day, killing 85. And on July 26, a priest was killed in his church in northwestern France by two attackers who had proclaimed their allegiance to IS. The following day, the Cote d’Azur city of Cannes banned the burkini and the nearby resort of Villeneuve-Loubet followed suit in early August. Beach brawl over burkinis The Corsican town of Sisco on Sunday became the third to introduce a ban after a brawl in a cove between locals and families of North African origin left five people injured. A witness said the violence broke out after tourists took pictures of women swimming in burkinis on the Mediterranean island. Investigators are still probing what happened. The first ban on the burkini has been attributed to Mandelieu-la-Napoule, close to Cannes, where it was discreetly barred in July 2013. The text of the municipal decree has been used, typically word for word, in bans elsewhere. Cannes mayor David Lisnard said he had signed off on the burkini ban out of “respect for good customs and secularism”, a founding principle of the French republic. But Villeneuve-Loubet mayor Lionnel Luca had a different argument, saying swimming “fully dressed… (was) unacceptable for hygienic reasons.” The bans are opposed by some, who contend they are a populist ploy, violate human rights and likely to inflame tensions. The Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) mounted an unsuccessful legal challenge to the ban in Cannes. It is now taking its case to the Council of State, the highest judicial authority in France for administrative matters. But Valls, in an interview published on Wednesday with the southern regional newspaper La Provence, said he supported the ban. “I understand mayors who, at this time of tension, respond by looking for solutions, by avoiding disturbances to public order,” Valls said. “I therefore support those who have passed (burkini) decrees if they are impelled by the will to encourage people to live together and not by ulterior political motives.” Valls added: “Beaches, like all public areas, must be protected from religious claims. The burkini is not a new range of swimwear, a fashion. It is the expression of a political project, a counter-society, based notably on the enslavement of women.” However, Valls ruled out a nationwide law to fight the burkini, saying “overall regulations on proscribing clothes cannot be a solution.”

2016-08-17 06:00 Agence France newsinfo.inquirer.net

14 CLOUDSEC holds internet security conference in Manila CLOUDSEC, a global community for cyber-security experts and professionals, held its global internet security conference in Manila for the first time on Tuesday. Its main theme was to empower users against cyber- threats through cybersecurity awareness. The conference moves through various countries and will be stopping by China, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, UK and Korea later this year. Having been held in the Philippines for the first time this year called to light the country’s vulnerability to digital attacks. International and local cybersecurity experts converged in Manila to hold talks on topics such as leveraging host-based security, state of web defacements, hacktivism and the art of (cyber)war. The various talks were spearheaded by representatives of companies like Schneider Electric, Qualys, Amazon Web Services, VMWare, NUTANIX, SANS and, of course, Trend Micro. This is possible because despite being sponsored by Trend Micro, the company wants the event to be as brand- neutral as possible to allow for greater dissemination of information and education about cybersecurity as well as the threats that they constantly battle. In a press briefing, Trend Micro Global CTO Raimund Genes reiterated that cybersecurity is all about the people and how they utilize the tools as well as solutions being provided to them. He is advocating the placement of government policies to urge companies to be more proactive in laying down security layers to protect sensitive information from cyber-attacks. Genes also noted that the Manila leg of the conference showed the “hunger” for knowledge that the participants had with regards to cybersecurity. He said, “You need to have the right people on your team. The strategy needs people and teams. All the best strategies and technologies are moot without people.” According to Trend Micro data, cyber-attacks could severely impact systems and users in as little as five minutes. Five minutes is also enough to unleash up to 1,800 new threats and expose systems to over 800,000 malicious URLs, malware and spam email. Prevention is the best defense against cyber-attacks and having people educated about cybersecurity is the way to make this happen. Alfred Bayle

2016-08-17 06:00 technology.inquirer.net

15 15 Drug-crazed teen found biting off face of man he stabbed dead MIAMI, United States — A teenager bit off pieces of the face of a slain man at the scene of a double homicide in Florida that may be linked to an addictive synthetic drug. Police said they found Florida State University student Austin Harrouff, 19, grunting and growling as he removed the victim’s flesh with his teeth late Monday in the driveway of a house in Tequesta, less than 100 miles (150 kilometers) north of Miami. Harrouff allegedly had knifed the man and his wife to death and wounded their neighbor. Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said the “perplexing, inexplicable” attack was random and the teenager was probably roaming the area under the effect of synthetic drugs known as bath salts, “flakka” or gravel. The southern Florida region, a popular tourist spot, has been hit hard by the cheap, potent and deadly drug — also known as alpha-PVP — manufactured in China that is similar chemically to bath salts. John Stevens, 59, and his wife Michelle Mishcon, 53, died at the scene. A neighbor who tried to intervene and rescue them was stabbed in the attack, but managed to call the emergency hotline and is now recovering in a hospital. Harrouff, the student, had no history of violence. He belonged to the Phi Delta Alpha fraternity. But several police officers, dogs and a stun gun were needed to get Harrouff off the victim and to stop biting him. “The suspect in this case was abnormally strong,” Snyder said, adding there was no known connection between the victims and the suspect. “There were multiple weapons of opportunity inside the garage… sharp objects… It seems apparent that the male victim was fighting back,” the sheriff added. “There were so many injuries and (such) massive trauma that it will probably take the medical examiner some time to give us an exact description.” Blood tests have so far ruled out cocaine and heroin use. “I’m not going to speculate except to say that we know in our business that people on flakka would do this type of behavior where they attack their victim and they do the biting and actually remove pieces of flesh,” Snyder said.

2016-08-17 06:00 Agence France newsinfo.inquirer.net

16 Russian Tu-22M3 'Backfire' long-range bombers strike ISIS from Iran's Hamadan airfield (VIDEO) — RT News The long range bombers with full bomb payload took off from Hamadan Airfield to attack Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and Al- Nusra Front facilities in Aleppo, Deir-ez-Zor and Idlib provinces. The strikes have eliminated five major terrorist weapons depots and training compounds in the area as well as three command posts and a significant number of terrorists, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The long-range bombers were covered by Su-30sm and Su-35s jet fighters which took off from Russia’s Khmeimim Airbase in Syria. Russia notified the US-led coalition about its operation involving the use of an Iranian airfield and passing through the coalition-controlled territory in time, which was “enough” to maintain safety in the airspace over Iraq and Syria, the US Defense Ministry spokesman said during a briefing following the Russian air strikes. READ MORE: Russia notified US-led coalition of anti-ISIS strike from Iranian air base – Pentagon The number of military aircraft deployed at Hamadan Airbase has not been disclosed. The Al-Masdar website was the first to publish photos of at least three Tu- 22M3 bombers and Il-76 military transport jets in Iran. Moscow and Tehran signed a military agreement allowing Russian aircraft to station at Hamadan Airport in western Iran. Tehran has agreed to share its military facilities and capacities with Moscow, confirming dedication to strategic cooperation in fighting against terrorism in Syria, Iran’s Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. The core benefit for the Russian Air Force is a drastic reduction in flying time to terrorist targets in Syria. Russian long-range bombers delivered airstrikes in Syria from a base in Mozdok, Russia, and had to cover a distance of about 2,000km to get to Syrian airspace. Now that distance is reduced to some 700km, so time- sensitive airstrikes can be delivered immediately and more cheaply. As for Khmeimim Airbase in Syria’s Latakia province, used by Russian task force since September 2015 to deliver airstrikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) – its airstrip is not suitable for the heavy Tu-22M3. But that is subject to change, as Damascus granted Moscow permission to station a permanent military airbase at Khmeimim, and the Russian Air Force is preparing to thoroughly refurbish and modernize the airfield, so it will be able to accommodate all types of military aircraft in the near future. Military cooperation between Iran and Russia is developing rapidly. In January this year, Moscow and Tehran signed military cooperation deal that implies wider collaboration in personnel training and counter-terrorism activities. Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan signed the document during a visit by Russia’s top brass to the Iranian capital. On Monday, Russian media reported that Moscow has once again requested Iran and Iraq to allow cruise missiles to fly through their respective airspace to deliver strikes on terrorist targets in Syria. Also on Monday, Russia launched tactical naval drills in the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas. The warships taking part in the exercise are to engage in live artillery and missile fire “under simulated battlefield conditions.” The Mediterranean force includes two fast attack guided missile craft, both armed with Kalibr-NK cruise missile complexes equipped with eight missiles each. Simultaneously, a group of four attack guided missile craft (each armed with 8 Kalibr-NK cruise missiles) has been deployed in the southwestern part of the Caspian Sea, also to perform live artillery and missile strikes. On October 7, 2015, four Russian Navy warships in the Caspian Sea fired a total of 26 missiles at positions in Syria held by IS, Shoigu announced. The missiles traveled some 1,500km, changing route several times, and eliminating 11 targets. READ MORE: Maximum realism: Russian navy drills in Mediterranean & Caspian to simulate ‘full battle’ conditions On November 20, warships of Russia’s Caspian Fleet launched 18 cruise missiles at seven targets in the Syrian provinces of Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo. All of the targets were said to have been successfully hit

2016-08-17 06:00 www.rt.com

17 Alarming rise in number of sexual harassment cases in BMC offices With an average of 29 cases of sexual harassment filed each year, the women employees of India's richest and Asia's biggest civic body -- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) -- are a vulnerable lot, a RTI query revealed in Mumbai on Tuesday. The statistical data provided by the Complaints Committee of Women Sexual Harassment Prevention of 'Savitribai Phule Women Resource Centre' has indicated an alarming growth in sexual harassment of women in the civic body, said well-known Mumbai RTI activist Anil Galgali. "Unfortunately, they refused to share the data regarding implementation of the orders passed by these vigilance bodies responsible for stopping sexual harassment, on grounds that the information falls under 'restricted' category," Galgali said. On the RTI query, MCGM Public Information Officer and Administrative Officer Rekha Kale informed Galgali that between 2013 and 2016, a total of 118 sexual harassment complaints were received. Of these, the PIO said 21 were filed in the current year, averaging around three per month till July, Galgali said. From these cases, 96 per cent were listed as 'cleared', but four cases registered this year were shown as 'pending' in the MCGM records. "However, they did not share information on those cases where the 'action taken report' has not been filed on the orders issued by the statutory vigilance groups, or whether those found guilty after inquiry were ever punished or not in all the cases 'cleared' since 2013," Galgali observed. Another fact that came to light was of 16 members on the vigilance committee in force since 2009, eight, including the president and secretary, were related to the medical field. In a letter to Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta, Galgali demanded that the MCGM should name and shame all the officers or staffers who were found guilty in sexual harassment cases investigated by the statutory committee. "Their names must be prominently displayed on the MCGM's website and on all notice-boards with their photographs. This would act as a strong deterrent for others and fear of public reprisals will reduce future instances," Galgali told IANS. He further urged that the appointments on the statutory committee should be for a fixed tenure to ensure that vested lobbies do not get to control its functioning and allow utilisation of varied senior officers with experience for its work.

2016-08-17 06:00 By PTI www.mid-day.com

18 Delhi court asks Omar Abdullah's estranged wife to vacate house New Delhi : A court here on Tuesday ordered Payal Abdullah, the estranged wife of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to vacate the government accommodation allotted to Omar in the Lutyens zone in the national capital. District Judge Amar Nath dismissed her plea to quash the eviction notice issued on June 30 by the Estate Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir government for vacating bungalow No.7 on the Akbar Road here. Omar Abdullah The bungalow was allotted to Omar Abdullah in 1999 when he was a parliament member from Jammu and Kashmir. The house was allotted to him by the Ministry of Urban Development. Omar Abdullah had then taken charge as the Union Minister of State for External Affairs in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government, from July 23, 2001, to December 23, 2002. He resigned from the NDA government in October 2002 to concentrate on party work. In her plea, Payal told court that her family continued to live in that house when Omar was neither the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir nor a Union minister from 2002 to 2008. Later, Omar become the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in January 2009 and remained in that post till January 2015. The bungalow has big security lights and accommodation available for 41 security personnel. Payal told the court that notice issued by Estate Officer of Jammu and Kashmir was illegal as it was issued under the act of Jammu and Kashmir state which is not applicable in Delhi. She also said that eviction notice was not sent by the Ministry of Urban Development which allotted the sprawling accommodation to her husband in 1999. Payal has also filed a plea in the Delhi High court seeking its directions that she along with her sons be either allowed continued stay at 7, Akbar Road, or be allotted another suitable government accommodation where the family's 94 security personnel can effectively protect them. The matter is pending in high court.

2016-08-17 06:00 By IANS www.mid-day.com

19 Unearthed! British-era bunker discovered under Raj Bhavan in Mumbai A forgotten 150-metre long, underground British-era bunker has been unearthed inside the sprawling Raj Bhavan complex at Malabar Hill in south Mumbai, an official said on Tuesday. Governor C. V. Rao and his wife Vinodha and senior officials went around the bunker on Tuesday. Around three months ago, some old-timers informed the Governor of the existence of a tunnel inside the Raj Bhavan on the shores of the Arabian Sea. He asked to get it opened. Accordingly, on August 12, the PWD staff broke open a temporary wall that had been erected at the tunnel's entrance on the eastern side. The revelation was suprising. Instead of what was believed to be an underground tunnel, it turned out to be a huge barack with 13 rooms of varying sizes spread over an area of more than 5,000 square feet. The bunker opens with a 20-feet tall gate and a ramp on the western side. There are long passages connecting small to medium room on both sides. The bunker's rooms are named Shell Store, Gun Shell, Cartridge Store, Shell Lift, Pump and Workshop and there are scores of Lamp Recesses in the gangway. Though the underground bunker had apparently been closed after India's independence in 1947, it has remained surprisingly intact and has a drainage system with inlets for fresh air and light. An aide to the Governor said that according to the book, "History of Raj Bhavans in Maharashtra", it was formerly known as Government House and served as the residence of the British Governors since 1885 when Lord Reay converted it into a permanent residence. Before that, while the Malabar Hill residence served as the Summer Residence of British Governors, the Government House at Parel was the Governor's official residence. After the discovery of the Bunker, Rao has said he would consult experts to preserve it. Maharashtra Raj Bhavan is built on lush green 50 acres of land at Malabar Hill, lashed by Arabian Sea on three sides. It has its own private beach and a mile long forest. In October 2010, a huge and well-maintained tunnel believed to be over two centuries old was discovered in the premises of Mumbai GPO. 2016-08-17 06:00 By IANS www.mid-day.com

20 MHA orders security audit of airports, luggage check on entry New Delhi : Facing threat of terror attacks, the Home Ministry has ordered security audit of nearly 100 civil airports and decided to bring all such facilities under CISF cover gradually. It has also planned random checking of incoming air travellers at the entrance of airports. Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) for random checking of incoming vehicles of air travellers in city side approach, thorough checking of cargo and detection of flying objects and drones are also being drawn. A Civil Aviation Ministry's proposal to raise a separate force for aviation security has been turned down and all airports will be brought under the security cover of the Central Industrial Security Force gradually, official sources said. The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting attended by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top officials of Ministries of Home and Civil Aviation here on August 5. The move came after the terror attack on Brussels' Zaventem airport where terrorists blew explosives inside the airport terminal, much before the 'security hold' area, where passengers and luggage are checked. "We are going to completely overhaul the security apparatus of all airports. A dedicated plan is being worked out. Security audit of all airports have been ordered and based on the report, their security will be upgraded," Rijiju told reporters here. The meeting decided that 98 civil airports in the country will be be brought under the security cover of the CISF, the specialised force for airport security. Out of the total 98 functional airports in the country, 59 are under CISF cover, leaving out 39. Among 98 airports, 26 airports, including Delhi and Mumbai, are considered hyper-sensitive. Of these hyper-sensitive airports, 18 are under CISF cover while six like Srinagar and Imphal, are being guarded by CRPF, the state police or by other paramilitary forces. Under the sensitive category, there are 56 airports out of which only 37 have CISF cover and amongst 16 other airports, only four have CISF security. The report of the security audit being conducted by a team of experts from Ministry of Home Affairs, Intelligence Bureau, CISF and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security will be submitted within 20 days. The proposal to raise an Aviation Security Force, on the lines of Railway Protection Force, was rejected as security is the domain of the Home Ministry and the Civil Aviation Ministry or the BCAS do not have the necessary expertise in it.

2016-08-17 06:00 By PTI www.mid-day.com

21 Mumbai port handles record 6,316-car shipment New Delhi : Government today said Mumbai Port, one of the 12 major ports of the country, has set a new record of handling shipment of 6,316 cars in a single ship. "Continuing its march to set ever higher records of handling cars, Mumbai Port has set a new record of shipment of 6,316 cars on a single ship on its new berth OCT-2. This is a quantum jump over the previous record of shipment of 5,376 cars," Ministry of Shipping said in a statement. The ship M V Hoegh St Petersberg berthed on August 6, and sailed on August 9 with shipment 6,316 cars mainly consisting of 3,115 cars of General Motors and 3,093 cars of Volkswagen and exported mostly to Mexico. "Mumbai Port Trust is consistently contributing to the 'Make in India' campaign by facilitating the export of Made in India cars," the statement said. Mumbai Port has been focusing on the export and handling of cars and has emerged as number one port on the West Coast of India growing at about 25 per cent for last few years.

2016-08-17 06:00 By PTI www.mid-day.com

22 Disappointed Iraqi migrants return home with ‘idealized’ expectations of Europe shattered – report — RT News Migrants who chose to go back to Iraq said the quality of life in Europe was overrated, according to the report titled “Migration Flows from Iraq to Europe: Reasons Behind Migration” published by the International Organization for Migration on Tuesday. Migrants cited an extremely long asylum application process, poor living conditions and general disappointment with the way of life in Europe as being among the main reasons for their return, IOM said. “The study, based on interviews in Europe, and with Iraqis who returned home, said returnees reported that life in Europe had been idealized and that the reality was more difficult than expected,” Farhan Haq, deputy UN spokesman, said as quoted by Xinhua news agency. IOM had assisted with the repatriation of some 9,600 Iraqis last year and through June of this year, the agency reported. However, the actual number could be even higher as many migrants returned home without IOM help. Before immigrating many Iraqis viewed Europe as a “paradise” , the report stated. However, once they got there, they realized that settling in was not as easy as they had imagined. “Receiving a residency permit is not as easy as expected. Waiting times are really long,” one of the interviewees said. “Migrants are shocked because life in the country of destination is completely different from their expectations,” said another. Others complained about being physically or verbally abused by police saying “We were not treated with respect”. Migrants were also dissatisfied with the accommodation they were given while they had to wait for their asylum application form to be processed. The camps were overcrowded and represented a “military base”. “We expected a home and we were put in a tent with military blankets,” they said. The study was based on interviews with 86 Iraqi migrants all of whom returned to Iraq after migrating to Europe in 2015. The discussions took place between March and April 2016 in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). All of the participants were enrolled in an IOM program which helped them to return home. The report also analyzed factors that pushed Iraqis to leave their country in the first place. It found that most left Iraq due to poor security situation, political instability and perceived lack of equality and law enforcement. When selecting a destination, most Iraqis based their choice on the presence of relatives or friends in a certain country, and on assumptions that they would easily receive a residency permit and reunite with family. The study is the second phase of a project, the first part of which involved another report which was released in February based on 500 interviews with Iraqi migrants. READ MORE: Greek islands overflowing with migrants amid EU fears Turkey will abandon refugee deal According to IOM, over one million migrants reached European shores in 2015. Being the third largest group of migrants, some 85,000 Iraqis arrived to Greece by sea in the second half of 2015 alone.

2016-08-17 05:21 www.rt.com

23 Conductor Jules Buckley on Quincy Jones Prom: 'We're bricking it' In just five days, the Royal Albert Hall will shudder to the sounds of Michael Jackson, as the Proms celebrate legendary pop producer Quincy Jones. Eight months in the making, the concert will not just cover Thriller and Off The Wall, but Jones's big-band work, jazz compositions and film scores. And the 27-time Grammy-winner is coming to London to watch the concert. "Can you write that we're bricking it? " laughs conductor Jules Buckley. "Just absolutely bricking it. " As a child of the 1980s, Buckley first encountered Jones through his work with the King of Pop. "We had Thriller on in the car when I was three," he says. "And then it was like, 'wow, he's an incredible big-band writer, too? What the hell?' "He's a guru. He doesn't have an equal. There's no-one that comes close in the jazz and pop world, in terms of being a conductor, composer, arranger, producer, mentor, philanthropist. It's crazy. " The 36-year-old might be under pressure ahead of Monday's Prom, but he has a habit of pulling these things off. In previous years, he conducted the Ibiza Prom and the Urban Prom, dragging dance and grime into the classical realm. Born in Buckinghamshire, Buckley has enjoyed a rapid rise since he co- founded the Heritage Orchestra in 2004, specialising in non-classical repertoire. He has worked with Arctic Monkeys, Tori Amos, Massive Attack and Dizzee Rascal, and won his first Grammy earlier this year for a collaboration with Brooklyn jazz-funksters Snarky Puppy. As well the Heritage, he is now chief conductor of the Netherlands-based Metropole Orkest, and has become the go-to guy when the Proms want a slice of street cred. He talked to BBC News about meeting Quincy Jones, the controversy around the Ibiza Prom, and the importance of magic markers. When you were asked to conduct the Quincy Jones Prom, was it an instant yes? ... Or was it more like, "can I just go change my trousers and then come back to you?! " Actually, the truth is we wanted to find an amazing programme for the Proms and I said, "what about Quincy? ". I knew it was a long shot but I approached Quincy myself. Was he aware of the Proms? I think so. He'd always been looking to have a show in this amazing hall. So the timing was right. And you've been collaborating with him for the last six months. That's been major. Just listening to this music and thinking, "oh my God, how do I put a programme together? " I had to kill a lot of darlings along the way. No matter what we do, there will be a lot of people going, "I can't believe you didn't play that tune, man. " What's the one you already regret cutting? I think the one that's going to come back and haunt me is Ai No Corrida. How much of the concert will be devoted to Michael Jackson? There's three Michael Jackson songs in the programme. One of them, we're really doing it differently, like totally different. But I wanted to avoid the Michael Jackson tribute thing. I wanted to show off the film score stuff, the big band stuff and the other work he's done. For example, he's just produced an album for this Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez, so I also wanted to include something right from this year. Did you talk to Quincy about how those classic songs were recorded? There's so much sonic innovation, for instance, in the drum sound on Billie Jean. I tell you one thing. For Wanna Be Starting Something, Q's office sent me some manuscripts and the " ch-cha-ch-cha " sound that you think is a shaker is actually two bits of sandpaper. When you read these amazing little details, it's so much fun to put together. But the Jacko stuff is the biggest challenge of the show. Everyone wants to hear those lines. You just called him "Q". Does that mean you've been inducted to the inner circle? Well, I haven't ever called him Q to his face yet! I think it's a bit like "sie" and "du" in Germany. So, at first you stick to the formal "sie" and when they offer you the "du", you can say it. When we hook up in London, I'm going to start with Quincy. Just because I think it's right. I've noticed that when orchestras play pop and rock, they often strip out the beat. Isn't that missing the point? It's almost like they're afraid of it, right? They're afraid of moshing out. But the beat and the bass line is the gospel of the music, and you want to try to get that into the bloodstream of your musicians as quickly as possible. You're also conducting a Prom with jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, who's an incredible improvisational talent. How do you prepare an orchestra for the moment they have to abandon the score and follow him? With Kamasi, his band can go anywhere, so I do one of two things: I have a huge bit of paper and a massive magic marker, and I start writing riffs out on the spot for the strings to play. And the other thing is, I'll write down a bar number and, when we're about to hit that bar, I hold it up and bring them in. If you're working with an orchestra and, at the beginning of a tune, the soloist wants to vamp a bit longer, then you need to explain in rehearsals a sequence of signs which might mean, "okay, hold this pattern, we're going to loop. " You're doing some of those signs as you speak - clenching a fist, or making a pyramid with your fingers… Right. You create conductorial safety buttons. For example, some of my friends are jazz composers and they'll number each section in a sequence of music. Number one is what we call the panic button - and if the conductor holds up the "one" it means it's all gone to hell. So he cues the "one" and they play this massive, whopper chord and then they go back to the start! There was a lot of negativity in the run-up to last year's Ibiza Prom. What was your experience? My main memory is that when it was proposed to us, I went to Chris Wheeler, who I run the Heritage Orchestra with, and we had a sit down and a chat and, for a while, we were considering not taking it on. We honestly thought it might bomb. The response was better than anyone expected. People actually applauded in between the songs, which is almost unheard of at the Proms. They were roaring. It was like a cathartic thing for many members of the audience. As soon as I started I thought, "ah, we're going to be fine". But before then I was sat backstage like, "flipping hell. " The funny thing is that, when I was a teenager, I wasn't really into that music. I was much more into grunge and heavy metal. Maybe you could do a grunge Prom next year. Actually, Eddie Vedder [from Pearl Jam] is top of my list. I know that Eddie Vedder, acoustic with an orchestra could be incredible. But it might take a lot of money. Is it more important to have these collaborations in a classical music setting, or to take orchestras out to a new audience that doesn't normally experience classical? I think both are equally important. There's something cool about sticking an orchestra in a club, but it has to be done with care. The sound has to be right. Generally, I think as many people as possible should see large ensemble music performed at a really high level. And it doesn't really matter what the music is. The Quincy Jones Prom takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 22 August. Jules Buckley also conducts the Kamasi Washington Prom on Tuesday 30 August. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts , on Instagram at bbcnewsents , or email [email protected] .

2016-08-17 05:21 By Mark www.bbc.co.uk

24 Syrian conflict: Russian bombers use Iran base for air strikes Russia's defence ministry says it has used a base in western Iran to carry out air strikes in Syria. Tupolev-22M3 long-range bombers and Sukhoi-34 strike fighters took off from Hamedan on Tuesday, a statement said. Targets were hit in Aleppo, Idlib and Deir al-Zour provinces, it added. Local groups said 27 civilians had died. It is reportedly the first time Russia has struck targets inside Syria from a third country since it began a campaign to prop up Syria's president last year. Iran is Bashar al-Assad's main regional ally and has provided significant military and financial support since an uprising against him erupted in 2011. The US State Department said Russia's use of an Iranian base was "unfortunate but not surprising". Asked about moves towards a possible agreement with Russia to co- operate in fighting so-called Islamic State (IS), a spokesman, Mark Toner, said closer Russian-Iranian ties would not necessarily preclude a deal. But he added: "We're not there yet. " In recent months, senior Russian and Iranian officials have discussed boosting their military co-operation, reports the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow. Last week, Russia asked Iran and Iraq to allow Russian cruise missiles to fly through their airspace for attacks on terrorist targets in Syria. Russia has been operating jets and helicopters from bases in Syria for the past year, but this is the first time that Moscow has deployed aircraft to a third country in the region. Reports indicate that up to six Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers - known by the Nato codename of "Backfire" - are now operating from an air base in western Iran. These planes - originally designed as a long-range strategic bomber - have already been engaged in the Syrian air campaign but operating from bases in southern Russia. Placing them in Iran dramatically reduces the duration of their missions. The Russian defence ministry says that an unspecified number of Sukhoi-34 strike aircraft have also been sent to Iran. Their deployment marks an intensification of the Russian air campaign - perhaps a reflection of the scale of the fighting in and around Aleppo - and it is a demonstration of the growing warmth in ties between Moscow and Tehran, the Syrian government's two closest allies. The Russian defence ministry statement said Tuesday's air strikes had killed a "large number" of militants from IS and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, a rival jihadist group previously known as al-Nusra Front. They had also resulted in the destruction of five warehouses filled with weapons, ammunition and fuel, and jihadist training camps in the northern provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, it added. Three command centres in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour were also hit. The Local Co-ordination Committees in Syria said 15 civilians had died in Russian strikes in the Tariq al-Bab district of Aleppo and a further two in the Daret Izza district. Another 10 people died in air attacks in the Ommal neighbourhood of Deir al-Zour, the committees said. The strikes came a day after Russia's defence minister suggested Moscow was close to an agreement with the US on collaborating in attacks on IS around the divided city of Aleppo, where fighting between Syrian government and rebel forces has escalated in recent weeks. "We are moving step by step closer to a plan - and I'm only talking about Aleppo here - that would really allow us to start fighting together to bring peace so that people can return to their homes in this troubled land," Russia's RIA news agency cited Sergei Shoigu as saying. The US has conducted hundreds of air strikes against IS and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham militants in Syria since September 2014, but it backs the rebellion. Also on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch alleged that Russian and Syrian government aircraft had been using incendiary weapons in civilian areas in violation of international law - something Moscow has denied. A review of photographs and videos indicated there were at least 18 incendiary weapon attacks on rebel-held areas in Aleppo and Idlib between 5 June and 10 August, the US-based group said. Witnesses and emergency workers reported at least 12 civilians wounded in five of the attacks.

2016-08-16 17:19 www.bbc.co.uk

25 Homeowners sue over Pokestop on their property — RT America Scott Dodich and Jayme Gotts-Dodich of St. Clair Shores, Michigan enjoyed living in their quiet, safe neighborhood for two years. But just a few months ago, things got weird. According to their lawsuit against Niantic, their “ once-quiet street degenerated into ‘a nightmare’ for Plaintiffs and their neighbors. ” What is to blame for destroying their suburban bliss? Pokémon Go. Across the street from the Dodich and Gotts-Dodich family is Wahby Park, a quiet area that the lawsuit claims rarely had more than a dozen people in it at a time. That was before Niantic placed a Pokéstop and a Pokémon Gym around the park. The visitors that flocked to the area showed little respect for the neighborhood they were passing through, the lawsuit claims, “Pokémon Go players parked their cars in front of Plaintiffs’ and their neighbors’ homes, blocking their driveways.” The park’s operating hours did little to impede the players who would “‘[hide] on our street or in the bushes, then come right back once police leave.’ ” In addition, players wandered onto private property and would grow aggressive when confronted, such as when Gotts-Dodich asked a player to leave, only to be told “ shut up b****, or else. ” The lawsuit claims that when they weren’t verbally assaulting property owners, players would look into their windows, trample landscaping and changed the atmosphere of the neighborhood they moved to because of the safety and privacy. In late July, Plaintiffs requested the removal of the Pokestops and Pokémon Gym that Niantic had placed near their home, using the designated request form on the company’s website. In response, they received only an automated form reply: “ Thank you for reporting this PokéStop/Gym. We will review and take appropriate action. You’ll receive a follow-up email once your request has been reviewed. ” “ We don’t feel safe having people on our property looking into our home. Nor do we feel safe with random vehicles parking, driving slow, and hanging out on our street. We don’t know who is playing the game, who is looking at our homes to break in or steal, who is a pedophile or rapist. I don’t feel safe sitting on our porch, something we love to do, ” the lawsuit reads. They attempted to contact Niantic to alert them of the issue by using a designated request form on the website, only to receive an automated reply reading, “ Thank you for reporting this PokéStop/Gym. We will review and take appropriate action. You’ll receive a follow-up email once your request has been reviewed. ” They filed several more complaints that generated the same response. They aren’t the only people having issues with Pokémon Go’s choices for locations. The Holocaust Museum had similar complaints, along with a cemetery in Alabama.

2016-08-17 05:21 www.rt.com

26 Delighted scientists discover goofy squid (VIDEO) — RT America The stubby squid, notable for its weird eyes that give it the aesthetic of a stuffed animal sunk to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, was spotted by scientific explorers aboard the E/V Nautilus, according to a spokeswoman for Nautilus Live, ABC News reported. Even the researchers were amused by it. One could be heard saying that its eyes “ look painted on. ” Another said, “ It looks like some little kid dropped their toy. ” The researchers discussed whether or not they could make it move to see it swim, but decided against it. In the video, the researchers also refer to it as a cuttlefish a few times. This is because cuttlefish are also in the Cephalopoda class and are very closely related to the stubby squid. Susan Poulton, a spokeswoman for Nautilus Live, told ABC News that the squid " spends life on the seafloor, activating a sticky mucus jacket and burrowing into the sediment to camouflage. " Its funny eyes aren’t just for laughs. They leave their “ eyes poking out to spot prey like shrimp and small fish. "

2016-08-17 05:21 www.rt.com

2016-08-17 05:42 www.thedrum.com

28 Bonin Bough has left Mondelez weeks before his CNBC show begins Mondelēz International’s chief media and e-commere officer Bonin Bough is leaving the company, AdAge reports. In an email, Mondelēz International spokesperson Michael Mitchell said to AdAge that Bough’s last day was Aug. 12, and that he chose to leave “to pursue interests outside the company.” “We thank Bonin for his many contributions, particularly in driving digital adoption, media agency consolidation, driving efficiencies in media investment and helping establish our e-commerce ambition. We're proud of his accomplishments and wish him the very best in his future endeavors,” Mitchell stated. In June, CNBC announced that Bough would be the host of its series ‘Cleveland Hustles,’ a show that pairs four Cleveland business leaders with local entrepreneurs who are looking for investments to launch their businesses. Executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter hand-picked Bough to host the show, according to CNBC, which begins on Aug. 24. Before joining Mondelēz International in 2012, Bough served as senior global director of digital and social media at PepsiCo, according to his LinkedIn. Bough is one the most well-known marketers within in the industry, and has been awarded a number of times for his efforts. In 2011, he was named one of Fast Company’ s most creative people , and in 2013 he was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Achievement. He also has recently written a book called ‘Txt Me,’ which according to Amazon is a “fascinating, funny, entertaining exploration of how our mobile society is changing the way we are behaving, reacting, thinking, learning, parenting, dating, having sex, eating, worshiping, exercising, and buying. It will challenge, surprise, provoke, and inspire you.” The book features Bough’s actual phone number on the cover.

2016-08-17 05:42 www.thedrum.com

29 John McLaughlin, R. I. P. John McLaughlin, the host of the syndicated political talk show The McLaughlin Group has passed away at the age of 89. McLaughlin had hosted the program from its inception in 1982 until missing the show for the first time this past Sunday due to illness. It was a program that my family watched regularly. When I first saw it, I wondered why the hell this old dude was constantly yelling. But in time I began to appreciate it (even with the presence of Pat Buchanan). I must confess that I didn’t know the show was still on the air until last month when I caught it by chance while my brother was in town visiting. It had been years since seeing the show and we were both struck by how weak he looked and sounded. By all appearances, it looked like he had suffered a stroke or perhaps several of them. It was a far cry from the booming voice which bellowed, “Issue Number One” and inspired Dana Carvey’s parody in the late ’80’s & early ’90’s. If anything, SNL’s version of The McLaughlin Group was probably toned down. Before appearing on television, McLaughlin was a Jesuit priest and later worked in the Nixon White House. Let me end here with President Reagan. Speaking in October 1985, The Gipper said of McLaughlin, “I once described John by saying the United States needs a tax increase like John McLaughlin needs assertiveness training. John took a simple Sunday morning discussion format out of the issues of our day and, using the insight, skill, and great humility that have become his trademarks…managed to turn it into a political version of “Animal House.”

2016-08-17 05:21 Aaron Goldstein spectator.org

30 30 Ford aims to build a self-driving car with no pedals or steering wheel by 2021 Ford has announced its intention to build autonomous cars with no steering wheel or pedals within the next five years. The automaker said the cars will be used in a ride-hailing or ride-sharing capacity, and will be considered level-4 capable vehicles by the Society of Automotive Engineers, which according to Wired means that “the car does everything and human involvement is strictly optional.” To meet its five-year goal, Ford said it is investing in or collaborating with four startups to enhance its autonomous vehicle development, and plans to double the size of its Palo Alto team by the end of next year. The startups, which include Velodyne, Saips, Nirenberg Neuroscience LLC and Civil Maps, will help Ford with elements like advanced algorithms, 3D mapping, and light detection and ranging sensors. Mark Fields, Ford’s president and CEO, said of the Ford’s goal: “The next decade will be defined by automation of the automobile, and we see autonomous vehicles as having as significant an impact on society as Ford’s moving assembly line did 100 years ago. We’re dedicated to putting on the road an autonomous vehicle that can improve safety and solve social and environmental challenges for millions of people – not just those who can afford luxury vehicles.”

2016-08-17 05:42 www.thedrum.com

31 European grocers are battling with some of the worst trading figures on record European grocers are trying to combat dwindling prices paid for goods and even bleaker sales coming through their tills, with Neilsen reporting that figures are at their worst since it began its measurement in 2008. In the second quarter of 2016, the cost of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) rose just 0.7 per cent year-on-year, whilst volumes rose 0.1 per cent – the lowest level for over two years – leading to a meagre 0.8 per cent increase in takings at the till (the lowest figure Neilsen has seen in the past eight years). “The historically low performance across Europe is driven by two factors,” explained Nielsen’s European director of retail insights Jean-Jacques Vandenheede. “The negative effect of Easter not occurring in Q2 this year but doing so last year, however, more significantly, the very low growth in France and Germany and the noticeable decline in the UK which is being driven by fierce price competition among the retailers. Southern Europe was often to blame for Europe’s poor performance but it’s currently doing quite well whilst northern Europe is today’s problem child.” In the UK Aldi and Lidl’s seemingly unencumbered rise has resulted in all four of the country’s biggest grocers to embark on costly price-cutting drive. This has resulted in the country’s worst performance for nearly two years with growth down by 1.6 per cent. It is the third worst performing country in Europe, coming only slightly ahead of Greece and Finland. Across the 21 European countries measured, Turkey showed the most positive signs of growth (up 8.9 per cent), followed by Norway (3.5 per cent) and Sweden (3.2 per cent). Of the big five western European markets, Spain had the highest growth (2.1 per cent), followed by Italy (1.2 per cent).

2016-08-17 05:41 www.thedrum.com

32 Intel steps up VR game with cord-free headset Let’s face it, none of the current virtual reality headsets are going to win any beauty contests. They are bulky, awkward, clunky and not in the least bit sexy. What VR sells is the visual world you get after the behemoth headsets are on. Intel has at least made the VR world a little less wired, offering Project Alloy, a wireless headset that doesn’t require a PC to use, freeing the user from the wired connections that usually come with VR. Project Alloy was announced by CEO Brian Kraznich at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on Tuesday. A press release on the Intel website talked about the technology with these words: “The computing power is located in the Alloy Head-Mounted Device (HMD), which allows the user to experience VR untethered. That means you can ‘cut the VR cord,’ allowing a free range of motion with 6 degrees-of-freedom across a large space. This, combined with collision detection and avoidance, enables the user to utilize physical movement to explore a virtual space.” It uses something Intel calls “merged reality,” which lets you see what’s in front of you through Intel RealSense cameras attached to the headset. It doesn’t need external sensors or cameras. You can use that to interact with elements in the real world through a virtual portal, making you in charge of what’s going on, in essence. A demo at the IDF showed the ability of Alloy to merge reality with the virtual world by the user’s hands. It is also on display on a YouTube video that shows somebody walking through an impossibly hip party and helping change the outcome (dropping a waiter into the pool) through your actions, no matter where you are. The Alloy designs won’t be available anytime soon, and chances are the headsets won’t be cheap, like Google Cardboard. But Intel did say that they will be sharing the technology with partners, according to the release. “Intel will open the Alloy hardware and provide open APIs for the ecosystem, allowing developers and partners to create their own branded products from the Alloy design, in 2017.”

2016-08-17 05:41 www.thedrum.com

33 A Tale of Two Disasters It started on Thursday evening of last week and didn’t end until Sunday morning, about 60 hours’ worth of non-stop rain in Biblical proportions covering about half a state. In some places, as much as 31 inches of rain fell — in nearly all, the total was two feet. And from west of Lafayette to the Mississippi state line, Louisiana soon found itself under water. To the tune of more than four trillion gallons of rain — enough to fill six million Olympic-sized swimming pools. In two and a half days. As of this writing, some 20 of the state’s 64 parishes are now under a disaster declaration, with another handful likely to follow as the state’s rivers swell beyond their banks and spill into streets and homes. More — well more — than 40,000 homes have been destroyed, and well north of 40,000 people have evacuated. The sheriff in Livingston Parish, just east of Baton Rouge, estimates that 105,000 people in a parish with a population of about 135,000 have “lost everything.” The eastern half of East Baton Rouge Parish, which lies on the opposite bank of the Amite River from Livingston, suffered similar damage. The death toll from the event stands at 11. As the waters recede and recovery personnel take stock of what happened, that number is sure to rise — perhaps precipitously so. Included in the lost is Bill Borne, the founder and former CEO of the national home nursing firm Amedisys, who was attempting to help rescue neighbors in an ATV and drowned amid the floodwaters. He was 62. Until you’ve seen what five feet of water in your house can do to your life, you can’t quite understand the concept of loss. Unless you have a second story, five feet of water means your possessions are now garbage. And this is the fate of hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana today, in an event which is only continuing to get worse. The instinct for those who aren’t familiar with the geography of South Louisiana, or more specifically the hydrology of the south-central part of the state, is to expect that rainwater falling around Baton Rouge would drain into the Mississippi River along which the city sits. But for a few minor exceptions, that is not the case. On the eastern side of the river, in fact, and particularly with respect to Baton Rouge and its major suburbs in Livingston and Ascension Parishes, it’s the Amite, and not the Mississippi, which serves as a drainage basin. And the Amite simply could not, and cannot, handle the strain of two feet of water, or more, in 2 ½ days across its entire drainage area. Its water levels rose as high as 12 feet above flood stage, and the tributary creeks and bayous in those parishes, themselves swollen with rainwater, had nowhere to drain. Thus ensued a rolling flood disaster from the Mississippi state line all the way to Lake Maurepas and Lake Ponchartrain. But unless you’ve looked for this information, it’s probably new to you. On the other hand, you’ve probably heard plenty about another story which happened at the same time. In Milwaukee, a young career criminal fleeing from the police made the mistake of pointing a (stolen) gun at a cop and was predictably shot dead. There wasn’t even an attempt to sell Sylville K. Smith as a gentle giant or harmless good citizen; all that mattered was that a “racist white cop,” who turned out to be black, shot an “unarmed black man,” who turned out to be armed, and there were inevitable race riots for a night or two. Guess which story the media found more compelling! At the end of the day it’s not a surprise. The current state of the American media, including the entertainment networks which pose as TV news organizations, requires every story to fall into one of relatively few buckets. To sell to the suits, a story has to be about global warming, an example of criminal malfeasance by government or private industry, or involve black vs. white, rich vs. poor, gay vs. straight, old vs. young or some other narrative being sold by the social justice cottage industry. Milwaukee has enough of those elements. Baton Rouge doesn’t. In the Louisiana flooding there is no black and white or rich and poor. There is only dry and wet. Among the 105,000 people in Livingston Parish who lost everything, there are poor black folks in trailers, and there are rich whites in the tony golf community of Greystone, with its million-dollar houses along a David Toms-designed course. All suffer equally. And there are stories of black people in boats rescuing white people in flooded houses, and vice versa. All of a sudden nobody cares about race in Louisiana. Nobody cares about lesbians, or the transgendered, or the politically incorrect. No one cares about Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. Nobody cares whether Adele can dance, or whether there is an Olympic fencer who wears a hijab and trashes the country before losing a match. And while it’s noted that neither Anderson Cooper, Shepard Smith, Lester Holt nor any of the other princelings of TV news have made their way to view Louisiana’s agony, no one really cares whether they come. The poisonous and divisive media coverage of Katrina a decade ago, and the worsening commoditization of news into a vehicle for demoralizing and delegitimizing Americans in flyover territory since then, has made the elites of New York and Washington toxic to the people in these parts. That’s a change from Katrina. Back then Louisiana begged and pleaded to have its story told, and the nation’s help given. But after suffering through the insults of pederast House Speaker Denny Hastert questioning whether to rebuild New Orleans, and the thorough incompetence and waste of FEMA, and the shameless use of Katrina for political purposes, the general sentiment is that this state will largely take care of itself. The boatmen of the unofficial volunteer Cajun Navy, who use Facebook as a means to target victims needing rescue, have replaced the government as Louisiana’s first responders — and the all-private, all-volunteer Celtic Media refuge, where giant movie sound stages have been converted to a refugee shelter with no help from government, has replaced the government-organized hell of the Superdome. Thanks to the rain, hundreds of thousands of people have nothing. But they have each other. They have their community. And that, for now, is enough. Shepard Smith can go hang.

2016-08-17 05:21 Scott McKay spectator.org

34 Local ‘Times’ Misses the Story Again “Barred from Fla. Voting,” the top of page 1A headline of Monday’s Tampa Bay Times sobs above a whiney story about the fact Florida does not allow convicted felons to vote, even after they’ve been released from prison, unless they complete a process to restore their civil rights. A process that many folks who found Florida’s laws inconvenient, thus their problems with the legal system, find too inconvenient to maneuver. Easier, and doubtless more satisfying, to complain to sympathetic reporters. According to the relentlessly leftist Times, the offense here, other than the original ones of course, about which the Times shows little interest, is that 1.5 million felons in Florida, who have demonstrated no respect for the state’s laws, cannot help choose those who enact and execute those laws. The story, actually a thinly veiled editorial masquerading as a news story, pleads that the proper path would be for felons to go directly from the prison cell to the voting booth. The process for restoring voting rights for felons is indeed long. But it is designed to ferret out those offenders who have truly gotten themselves between the ditches. It requires time and effort on the part of the applicants. But these folks did not become felons for being late to choir practice. Their offenses were real, as was the harm caused by them. Many who’ve gone astray at one point deserve a second chance. But society deserves a process that sees that second chances go to those who deserve them. And, oh yea, the story. Had these numbers landed on my desk back when I was writing for a daily newspaper, the story would have been that Florida has a shocking total of 1.5 million felons, not that these former drug dealers, burglars, arsonists, check kiters, and other kinds of bad actors can’t help select who their county commissioners will be. Or perhaps even be able to vote against the judge who sent them to prison.

2016-08-17 05:21 Larry Thornberry spectator.org

35 Public University Unveils Transgender Bathroom Policy The University of South Alabama will adopt a new bathroom policy which allows students to use whichever bathroom aligns with their gender identity. Starting this fall semester, all restrooms and changing facilities will be fully-interchangeable for all students, staff, and even visitors at the college. According to WALA , the policy change is in effect due to Title IX guidelines, which means the university is at risk of losing federal funding if they ever oppose the all-inclusive bathroom platform. “The University of South Alabama allows individuals to use the restroom or changing facility that is consistent with their gender identity,” according to WALA . “This is in compliance with Title IX guidance recently issued by the U. S. Department of Education and Department of Justice…all University of South Alabama employees, students, staff, and visitors.” The state of Alabama, one of many other states, is currently suing Obama for mandatory transgender bathroom laws, which states it is acceptable for males to shower among female students because of identity issues. The Daily Caller request for comment from school officials wasn’t returned by time of publication.

2016-08-17 05:21 Freelance Reporter dailycaller.com

36 Boston Globe Calls For Hillary To Close Clinton Foundation The Boston Globe has called for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to immediately cut donations to the Clinton Foundation, and then shut down the non-profit if she becomes president. “Although the charity founded by former President Bill Clinton has done admirable work over the last 15 years, the Clinton Foundation is also now clearly a liability for Hillary Clinton as she seeks the presidency in 2016,” the editorial board argued Tuesday . “The once-and-maybe-future first family will have plenty to keep them busy next year if Hillary Clinton defeats Donald Trump in November. The foundation should remove a political — and actual — distraction and stop accepting funding. If Clinton is elected, the foundation should be shut down.” Clinton continued her work at the Clinton Foundation while serving as secretary of state in the Obama administration. Released emails seem to indicate she wasn’t able to keep her roles adequately separate. The damage caused by the fluidity between roles would be unbelievably magnified, were she to become president. “[I]f the Clinton Foundation continues to cash checks from foreign governments and other individuals seeking to ingratiate themselves to a President Hillary Clinton, it would be unacceptable.” The Washington Post editorial board Sunday made some similar points to the Boston Globe, noting that while emails don’t seem to support the claim the Clinton Foundation was a “pay-to-play operation,” there was a clear breakdown in the ethical wall between her job as secretary of state and her work with the Clinton Foundation. It’s not even necessary in the process of closing the Clinton Foundation to ruin charity efforts. Assets could simply be transferred to some other foundation with similar work, or the Clintons could re-open the foundation after her term or terms in the White House were done. “If the foundation’s donors are truly motivated by altruism, and not by the lure of access to the Clintons, then surely they can find other ways to support the foundation’s goals,” the board said. Follow Jonah Bennett on Twitter Send tips to [email protected] . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 National Security dailycaller.com

37 Pentagon Skimmed $147B Off War Fund For Basic Operations The Department of Defense (DOD) moved more than $146 billion over six years from its war readiness fund to pay for basic military operations. Between 2009 and 2015, the DOD spent $146.9 billion designated for emergency war readiness on general operations, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released Tuesday. The report confirmed what many in Congress see as a misuse of a controversial discretionary account. “GAO found that DOD used its authorities to realign about $146.9 billion of its funding from fiscal years 2009 through 2015,” the GAO said. The Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) fund, sometimes panned as the Pentagon’s slush fund , is a separate funding mechanism from the DOD’s base operations and maintenance account. As the name suggests, the fund is designed to give the Pentagon flexibility to deal with foreign threats while waiting for congressional appropriations. The fund is not subject to sequestration or budget caps like the Pentagon’s base budget. The Pentagon took money from the OCO account and used it to bolster its base operation fund, or what are referred to as Operation and Maintenance accounts, the GAO found. The base operation budget represents the largest bloc of the defense accounts, which cover things like payroll, training, upkeep of military bases, maintenance of weapons, ammunition, administrative and management costs, and advertising for recruitment. The base budget does not include appropriations for new weapons systems, military missions, or research and development. The DOD is not required to separate spending on basic operations from OCO spending. The GAO recommends revising the policy. “By revising its guidance to require congressional reporting on O&M base obligations for each account in these materials and reports, DOD could provide complete information to assist Congress in better understanding and overseeing DOD’s full funding needs for O&M base,” the GAO said. Pentagon officials disagreed with the GAO’s recommendation, saying separating the accounts would be “very difficult and labor intensive,” in an official response included in the report. GAO conducted the report after the appropriations committees in both the House and Senate “on several occasions expressed concern that DOD relies on a portion of its OCO appropriations to fund O&M programs and activities that began in response to contingency operations but have continued after these operations ended,” the report said. Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, has criticized the Pentagon’s use of the OCO fund. He has also said that if Congress wants stop the DOD from using it, Congress need to increase the military’s base spending. The report comes as Congress is about to tackle the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act after the summer recess. Republicans have requested additional funding for the military’s base budget, but some see the OCO as a likely compromise. “More OCO is going to win,” Mackenzie Eaglen, fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told The Hill. “Period. Take it Vegas. It’s done. It won’t be as high as the GOP is hoping, but it’s going to be more.” Follow Thomas Phippen on Twitter Send tips to [email protected] . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 National Defense dailycaller.com

38 VA's Army Of Bored Interior Designers Can't Stop Decorating A Republican congressman is going after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for having almost 200 full-time interior designers. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller thinks the designers are a significant factor in the troubled agency’s penchant for wasting tax dollars, and offering inadequate care to veterans The Florida Republican — who has devoted much of his tenure as chairman to exposing waste, fraud and abuse in the VA — points to boondoggles like the department’s newest hospital in Aurora, Colo. The Aurora facility inexplicably went more than $1 billion over budget , and the contractor walked off the job, blaming VA mismanagement. The hospital, which won’t be completed until 2018, features a glass concourse the size of a football field. Plans included imported Brazilian wood, $10 million in landscaping, and 70-foot-high glass walls. Rep. Mike Coffman, the Colorado Republican who represents the district that includes the controversial facility, called the hospital’s design and furnishings “ exotic.” One of the people in charge of building it admitted, “it’s not typical of a military hospital.” Miller said having so many on-staff designers looking for ways to occupy themselves is one reason those kind of features are a recurring theme. He noted in a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald that the designers’ existence has an even greater financial impact than their salaries, because they help fuel VA’s penchant for elaborate architecture and mammoth art displays. “This week it was reported in the media that VA has… 167 interior designers — most medical centers had an interior designer, and some medical centers had several,” he wrote, citing The Daily Caller News Foundation’s exclusive Aug. 8 story. “I question the need for full time interior designers at individual facilities, especially given VA’s consistent pleas for greater health care funding and when a facility is not constructing a new building or a major renovation. “In addition to diverting resources away from medical personnel who directly impact veterans’ care, it would seem that such a large number of interior designers would encourage the elaborately expensive hospital designs that VA has produced in recent years. You have expressed on several occasions that such architecturally unique designs are not in VA’s interest, and I agree,” Miller said. The interior designers’ pay would total some $16 million a year if they make $100,000, including benefits. A recent job ad advertised $77,000 plus benefits, and said the job would go to a current federal employee, unless someone with a Ph. D in interior design emerged. (RELATED: VA Labor Contract Favors Union Bureaucrats Over Vets For Jobs) Those designers selected and purchased an additional $16 million of art during the Obama administration, including $500,000 on artwork at a hospital for the blind. Miller demanded a list of all VA interior designers and their salaries, and a justification for why regional offices can’t have one interior designer who travels to nearby hospitals when they are needed, such as during a renovation. “Please explain how it is prudent to have so many interior designers when VA recently threatened to suspend provision of health care services due to a self-inflicted $3 billion budget shortfall,” he said, alluding to a common theme that the VA — spurred by its powerful employees union — often puts creating jobs for government workers over the department’s mission. Follow Luke on Twitter. Send tips to [email protected]. Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 Investigative Reporter dailycaller.com

39 Pro-Palestinian Group Compiling Names Of Jewish Collegians A U. S. based pro- Palestinian organization is collecting names of Jewish students on college campuses across North America, reports Israel Radio. Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is reportedly putting together lists of Jewish college students which includes details like their dorm addresses. According to The Times of Israel , the report surfaced as Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee met on Tuesday to talk about Israel’s boycott initiative at U. S. colleges. The head of the committee, Likud MK Avi Dichter, says Israel “has a commitment [to protect] to every Jew when they are attacked for being a Jew.” The Jerusalem Post reports the meeting began with NGO Reservists on Duty, active members in various reserve units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) who are part of an effort to fight misconceptions about IDF soldiers, put forth a report regarding intimidation of Jewish college students in the U. S. as a result of activists calling for boycotts of Israel. One such example presented was the eviction notices posted on the doors of Jewish students at Connecticut College earlier this year and posted on the doors Jewish students at NYU in 2014 by the SJP. Reservists on Duty’s research director Amnon Goldstof said anti-Semitic incidents on American college campuses nearly doubled in 2015 to 90 from 47 in 2014. “Jewish students are the most persecuted minority on campuses in the US,” Goldstof remarked. “It’s an outrage. It’s part of their intimidation tactics against Jewish students on campus. It’s not acceptable that they do this. They can’t win the argument on the facts. So they’re trying to intimidate the Jewish students from speaking out.” “We’ve seen in history of compiling Jewish names and it’s unacceptable,” Farley Weiss, President of the Council of Young Israel, told The Daily Caller Tuesday. “There’s been an extraordinary upsurge in violence against American Jewish students in the last year and it’s mainly from [SJP] and it is something that the universities need to be clear that the free speech of Jewish students need to be protected,” Weiss added. Oren Segal, Director of ADL’s Center on Extremism, however, says the organization has not seen evidence of lists Jewish students being compiled by SJP. “According to our research, there is no evidence pointing to Students for Justice in Palestine compiling specific lists of Jewish students. However, we have long expressed our concerns over SJP’s campus efforts, which have resulted in troubling tensions between students and have fostered a hostile atmosphere for pro-Israel and Jewish students,” said Segal in an e- mail statement. Follow Kerry on Twitter

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

40 Conservatives Want Apology After Activists Chase Ayotte A conservative group demanded an apology Tuesday from the leader of a prominent environmental group after its members wore Republican nominee Donald Trump masks while hounding a GOP lawmaker. America Rising Squared (AR2) called members of 350 Action , an anti- fracking group co-founded by environmentalist Bill McKibben, “despicable.” They chased after Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte while she was running a 5K in New Hampshire. They posted a video on YouTube titled, “Kelly Ayotte Can’t Run From Her Trump Problem,” along with a description reading: “350 Action made clear that Kelly Ayotte can’t support for a climate denying racist while pretending to be a ‘green’ candidate.” WATCH: “It is reprehensible that Bill McKibben would send his left-wing activists to literally chase after Senator Ayotte wearing Donald Trump masks at last week’s race in Manchester,” Brian Rogers, executive director of AR2, said in a statement to reporters. “We demand that Mr. McKibben apologize to Senator Ayotte immediately.” The group’s actions, and the demands for apology, come only a handful of days after McKibben wrote an editorial with The New York Times complaining about being chased around by conservative activists with cameras. He lamented the situation at the time, calling himself “under surveillance.” “To be watched so much is a kind of never-ending nightmare. And sometimes it’s just infuriating. I skipped the funeral this summer of Patrick Sorrento, an important mentor to me at my college newspaper, because I didn’t want my minder to follow me and cause a distracting spectacle,” McKibben wrote. Rogers told reporters that the entire incident is rather ironic, considering the group’s leader is on record lambasting activists tracking his political events. “This episode proves how disingenuous and hypocritical Mr. McKibben really is – complaining about tracking his own public political events one day, and then videotaping his goons running after a United States Senator the next,” Rogers said. The group maintains that activists on the ground, not McKibben, were calling the shots. Dani Heffernan, the communication coordinator of 350 Action, said there is a difference between 350 Action’s tactics and those of AS2. “There’s a big difference between America Rising Squared creepily stalking a private citizen like Bill and 350 Action student organizers engaging in some creative political theater to push a public official like Senator Ayotte,” she said in a statement to NH Journal. Heffman added: “America Rising is more than welcome to get in the mix and engage in electoral politics with us —it’s the dark arts, cloak-and- dagger type stuff they do that crosses a line.” Follow Chris on Facebook and Twitter Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

41 Trump To Start Running First TV Ads In General Election Republican nominee Donald Trump is expected to run his first campaign ads since the primary. His polling numbers have taken a dive in several key states in recent weeks. The ad push will kick off Friday in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, a top campaign staffer confirmed to The Wall Street Journal. The move comes after a conference call with 50 members of Congress discussing how they plan to up the advertising efforts after Sept. 1. NBC News reports Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and outside groups in favor of the former first lady have spent a whopping $104 million on ads over the course of the past two months. The Clinton camp has been so confident in the battleground states of Virginia and Colorado that she pulled her television advertisements at the start of the month – a move some experts say should be a signal for the Trump camp to step up its efforts. The Real Clear Politics average currently shows Clinton with a 6.7 point advantage in the polls nationwide. Follow Juliegrace Brufke on Twitter Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

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2016-08-16 17:22 www.bloomberg.com

43 Top Public Servants Will Soon Get Wall Street- Style Bonuses The top “1 percent” of the federal civil service will be eligible for much bigger pay bonuses next year, according to a new Office of Personnel Management (OPM) advisory. Agencies can now give bonuses to top executives from a pool amounting to 7.5 percent of their total spending on Senior Executive Service (SES) salaries, up from 4.8 percent. An individual can get an annual bonus of more than that percentage. SES employees earn base salaries of up to $181,000, and 7.5 percent of that is $13,500. Members of the SES represent less than 1 percent of the federal workforce, and are generally permanent career civil servants. In some ways, this makes them more influential than political appointees who often stay in a government job only about 18 months. The SES was created by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 as the federal government’s top career managers. They received higher pay in return for agency heads having more flexibility in assigning SESers to new jobs. In the decades since, however, SESers have been represented by a powerful lobbying force, the Senior Executives Association (SEA). SEA has lobbied to give them the pay and power of at-will managers at major corporations, but with the job security of a unionized blue-collar worker or tenured college professor. The Daily Caller News Foundation revealed in an April 24, 2016, story that SEA is essentially a front for a law firm that profits through endless appeals on behalf of individual SESers fighting discipline. The group has taken agencies to court over bonuses for clients. The law firm out of which SEA is based is representing Sharon Helman, a convicted felon and former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) executive who accepted gifts from a contractor while veterans died on falsified wait- time lists. She could get her job back, and got a court to undo the rescission of a bonus that was received while her hospital was performing abysmally. Critics contend the civil service performance rating system is a failure because the vast majority of career employees — including SESers — are rated as good performers or better. The Government Accountability Office found, for example, that “more than 85 percent of the career SES… were rated in the top two of five categories for fiscal years 2010 through 2013, and career SES received approximately $42 million in awards for fiscal year 2013.” As The New York Times put it, “all of the 470 senior executives at [VA] received annual ratings over the last four years indicating that they were ‘fully successful’ in their jobs or even better … despite delays in processing disability compensation claims and problems with veterans’ access to the department’s sprawling health care system.” The Times also reported that none of VA’s SESers received “either of the two lowest of five possible job ratings, ‘minimally satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory,’ in any of the past four fiscal years.” The VA’s head of construction, for example, got high marks and $60,000 in bonuses even as new hospital building projects went $2 billion over budget . The SEA has reasoned circuitously that SESers are all high-performing, because if they weren’t, they wouldn’t be SESers. It has also claimed that without added incentives, no one would apply for jobs paying $181,000. The OPM memo encouraged agencies to give larger bonuses to a smaller number of people, rather than making bonuses for SESers a de facto entitlement. “Agencies should ensure only… employees who have demonstrated the highest levels of individual performance… receive the highest annual summary ratings and the largest corresponding performance awards,” OPM said. Despite high pay, SESers are almost never removed. The managers have repeatedly been figures of disgrace at VA hospitals. A TheDCNF analysis found that the department merely rotated failing execs from one facility to the next. The strategy generated the illusion that bad apples in the management corps were being fired, when they not only weren’t, but effectively could not be. Even if an SESer is demoted, he is entitled to keep the same pay while he takes a new job with less responsibility. Earlier this year, lobbying interests successfully removed a provision to limit VA bonuses to $360 million . With President Barack Obama’s second term approaching its end, some of his political appointees are frantically trying to convert to permanent or career SES status to retain their high-paying government jobs and the accompanying generous benefits, a generally illicit practice known as burrowing. The Aug. 12 OPM memo was first reported by FedSmith . Follow Luke on Twitter Send tips to [email protected] . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 Investigative Reporter dailycaller.com

44 FCC May Investigate Baltimore PD For Tracking Cell Phones The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received a civil complaint from civil liberties organizations asking the federal agency to investigate Baltimore Police Department’s use of cellphone tracking devices. The complaint alleges that the Baltimore police illegally use Stingray devices (also called cell site simulators) that act as fake cellphone towers in order to track a suspect’s location. The appeal cites federal law, specifically the Communications Act, which mandates that tracking the location of a suspect through a mobile phone requires a license. An FCC official told The Washington Post that local police agencies are not required to have a license under the law because of an exemption. But the Post contends that the FCC spokesperson “could not give a clear explanation.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new policy for the use of cell site simulators in September that is intended to “enhance transparency and accountability, improve training and supervision, establish a higher and more consistent legal standard and increase privacy protections in relation to law enforcement’s use of this critical technology.” But at least according to the implementation of the tools, the law does not apply to state and local law enforcement. The Stingray devices pull data from innocent bystanders who happen to be in proximity to the targeted suspect. The civil complaint admits it has no concrete evidence yet. “But the opaqueness of its secret and unwritten use policy, combined with its pattern of hampering speech and its history of surveilling protestors, suggest that is a likely possibility,” the letter reads. The groups also claim that the use of cell site simulators, which “are powerful, invasive and harmful surveillance devices,” disproportionately affect black residents and “disrupts emergency calling services.” The civil complaint comes just after the DOJ released the findings of an investigation that revealed the Baltimore police engaged in a “pattern of constitutional violations” including “illegal stops, searches, and arrests” that arose from the “‘Zero Tolerance’ Enforcement Strategy.” Follow Eric on Twitter Send tips to [email protected] .

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

45 Australia Law Enforcement Hacks MASSIVE Child Porn Club Australia authorities hacked U. S. Internet users in order to identify and apprehend people who were partaking in a child pornography exchange website. The dark web child abuse site known as “The Love Zone” (TLZ) includes tons of illegal and lewd content. Users are instructed to keep the page up to date by uploading material at least once a month to have continuous access to the forum, according to Motherboard. U. S. court documents reveal that as of “July of 2014, the Website was the largest and most sophisticated members-only child pornography website in existence boasting over 29,000 members…” It is not yet clear how or if the Australian law enforcement obtained a warrant before gathering the IP addresses of the American citizens. Christopher Allen, a spokesperson for the FBI, told Motherboard that in general, “The FBI led by its Legal Attaches in numerous countries around the world, seeks to foster strategic partnerships with foreign law enforcement, intelligence, and security services…” The Australian authorities have a specific law enforcement team to deal with child exploitation cases, called the Queensland Police Service’s Task Force Argos. The unit surreptitiously infiltrated the Australian administrator’s account and continued to act as the legitimate owner. Identifying the locations of the users proved difficult, because users would connect through the Tor network, obscuring and even concealing IP addresses. Australian authorities felt compelled to hack some of the users, who resided in America, to acquire the official IP addresses. One of the users, referred to as Mr. Piccolo in other court documents , “was first discovered as a user of TLZ when Australian authorities took over the TLZ website,” and “after gathering evidence against a host of users from the United States, authorities turned over a list of names of U. S. citizens to the U. S. law enforcement.” Piccolo’s attorney, Matthew Borgula, confirmed to Motherboard in an email that Piccolo was caught after he clicked on a link sent by Australian authorities that exposed his official IP address to investigators. Piccolo pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography a month ago, and was sentenced to five years in prison. The Australian owner of The Love Zone, Shannon McCoole, was sentenced to 35 years in jail for child sexual abuse. According to ABC Australia , presiding Judge Paul Rice told McCoole his offenses were “evil and depraved,” and told McCoole, “you have no moral compass.” “It’s easy to think of law enforcement hacking just as a phenomenon where the US hacks people who are located around the world, and we have to remember that this works both ways,” Christopher Soghoian, chief technologist for the American Civil Liberties Union, told Motherboard. Follow Eric on Twitter Send tips to [email protected] . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

46 NASA Wants To Build Space Station Around Mars By 2028 NASA wants to put a large space station in orbit above Mars by 2028, according to plans outlined by Lockheed Martin. Astronauts will live aboard this “Mars Base Camp” for about a year to collect information in preparation for the first manned landing, according to the NASA contractors from Lockheed Martin and Deep Space Systems Inc. “Before we send people to the surface of Mars, we owe it to that crew, to ourselves, to understand if there’s life on the planet and if there’s anything that’s toxic to humans,” Steve Bailey, the chief engineer of Deep Space Systems Inc, told Space.com . “This mission will do those two very fundamental things.” Lockheed Martin’s plan will construct a 132-ton space station around Mars capable of hosting six astronauts for a year. In comparison, the International Space Station weighs about 440 tons. The astronauts would remotely operate rovers, analyze samples off dirt and rock and even make short trips to Mars’s two moons. Such a mission would be relatively affordable. The station could be repeatedly reused, according to Lockheed Martin, but the company did not include any cost estimates for the program. NASA’s rocket, which is intended to take American astronauts to Mars in 2030, passed its final full-scale tests in late June. They were the rocket’s last test before its first crewless flight into space in 2018. Astronauts won’t ride the rocket into orbit until at least 2021. NASA’s plans to carry astronauts to Mars has been repeatedly sabotaged by the Obama administration, which was accused of leaking information to the press about missions, and has threatened to veto the projects. The space agency’s budget includes more than $2 billion for its Earth Science Mission Directorate for global warming science, which is specifically allocated to improve climate modeling, weather prediction and natural hazard mitigation. In comparison, NASA’s other functions, such as astrophysics and space technology, are only getting $781.5 and $826.7 million, respectively. America is currently better prepared to visit Mars than it was to visit the Moon in the 1960s, according to a study by NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The total costs of current plans to send Americans to Mars come out to roughly $35 billion spent by 2025 to arrive at the Red Planet in 2030. Former President George H. W. Bush’s Space Exploration Initiative was projected to cost $400 billion in 1989 over 20 to 30 years, but the program never got off the ground. It would have been the single costliest government undertaking since World War II. Former President George W. Bush’s Vision for Space Exploration would have cost $230 billion in 2004. In comparison, the Apollo program, which landed astronauts on the Moon, would have cost roughly $170 billion in 2005 dollars , making cost estimates for current plans appear inexpensive in comparison. Follow Andrew on Twitter Send tips to andrew@ dailycallernewsfoundation.org . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 Energy Environmental dailycaller.com

47 South Sudan Soldiers Gang-Rape American Aid Workers A contingent of United Nations peacekeepers and the U. S. embassy failed to respond to multiple calls for help from a group of aid workers under attack in South Sudan, according to an Associated Press report published Monday. The assault on the Terrain hotel complex was perpetrated by South Sudanese government troops July 11. Soldiers singled out U. S. citizens before gang-raping several women, beating aid workers and executing a local journalist, while forcing others to watch. “All of us were contacting whoever we could contact. The U. N., the U. S. embassy, contacting the specific battalions in the U. N., contacting specific departments,” said one woman who was raped by as many as 15 men. Records collected by the AP show that the U. N. Joint Operations Center in the South Sudanese capital of Juba was contacted about the attack at 3:37 p.m., just minutes after it began. Several other reports followed, but a quick reaction force was not mobilized by the U. N. Department of Safety and Security until 4:33 p.m. That team would never arrive. The timeline went blank for an hour and a half, ending with the words “DSS would not send a team” at 6:52 p.m. After an Ethiopian team also failed to respond, South Sudan finally sent a detachment to collect the victims, though three women would not be rescued until the following morning. “Everyone refused to go. Ethiopia, China, and Nepal. All refused to go,” said a U. N. worker who made the calls for help. Farhan Haq, the U. N. secretary-general’s deputy spokesman, said the U. N. has called on local authorities to investigate the matter and “bring the perpetrators to justice.” Gian Libot, a Filipino citizen who was present during the attacks, recalled one of the soldiers specifically targeting Americans. “He definitely had pronounced hatred against America,” Libot told the AP. “You messed up this country. You’re helping the rebels. The people in the U. N., they’re helping the rebels.” The U. S. embassy, which also received distress calls during the attack, “was not in a position to intervene,” Department of State spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters Monday, though it apparently passed along the information to South Sudanese officials. U. S. Ambassador to the U. N. Samantha Power has requested an investigation as to why peacekeepers failed to respond, and has demanded “swift corrective action.” “Throughout this three-year conflict, the Government of South Sudan has routinely allowed impunity for murder and sexual violence,” said Power in a statement Monday. “This must end. South Sudan’s leaders must investigate this incident and hold accountable the individuals responsible for these cowardly and brutal assaults.” Follow Russ Read on Twitter Send tips to [email protected] . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 National Security dailycaller.com

48 Former U. S. Attorney Hosted Fundraisers A former U. S. attorney violated Department of Justice (DOJ) policy, executive branch ethical standards, and possibly the Hatch Act when he hosted political fundraisers for Democrats at his home, a new DOJ Office of Inspector General (IG) report found . James Santelle — as the top law enforcement official for the Eastern District of Wisconsin — compromised the integrity of his office when he invited potential donors to his home on behalf of then-Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke and then-Democratic candidate for Attorney General Jon Richards in 2013 and 2014, according to the IG. “Santelle’s actions exhibit a disregard for safeguarding the department’s role as a non-partisan institution,” the IG said. “Santelle’s deliberate indifference to the effect his actions could have on the U. S. Attorney’s Office was particularly concerning, given that he was a 30-year career employee and the recipient of clear and repeated guidance from the department on such matters.” Santelle retired from the DOJ in July, 2015, during the IG’s probe of his political activity and his alleged misuse of a government credit card. No charges have been filed against him and he has not received other employment-related penalties. Burke was in a tight race against Republican Gov. Scott Walker when Santelle hosted her fundraiser in November, 2013. (RELATED: Court Orders End To ‘John Doe’ Investigation Into Scott Walker) The IG said Santelle possibly violated the Hatch Act. The Hatch Act is the primary federal law prohibiting government employees from political activity. The IG referred that determination to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the “sole” decider of Hatch Act violations. Santelle clearly did violate the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch governing partisan political fundraisers and endorsements. He also demonstrated a “lack of candor” to the IG when he claimed the Richards event was not intended to be a fundraiser, the IG said. The IG found Santelle violated DOJ policies prohibiting the following: Santelle consulted no ethics advisers at DOJ about the events, which the IG found “particularly troubling. Santelle could have easily avoided all of these violations by reading the department’s policy or seeking ethics advice. Either way Santelle would have learned that since the Burke event was a partisan campaign event, he was prohibited from participating actively in the event.” Santelle cancelled the April, 2014, Richards event at the instruction of someone within the DOJ who learned about the event from one of Santelle’s subordinates Santelle had invited to attend. But Santelle had already violated department policy by planning the event, the IG found. Follow Kathryn on Twitter Send tips to [email protected] . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

49 North Carolina's Last Chance To Save Its Voter ID Law North Carolina has filed an emergency petition at the Supreme Court to salvage its voter identification law. The brief comes over two weeks after the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down the law. Many legal observers questioned why the state took so long to file an emergency appeal. North Carolina retained former U. S. Solicitor General Paul Clement and his firm Bancroft PLLC, a boutique firm with corporate and appellate practices based in Washington, D. C., to bring the appeal to the high court. Clement is widely considered one of the most effective appellate advocates in the country. The law, adopted days after the Supreme Court effectively struck down section 5 of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder , requires voters to present a government-issued photo identification before casting ballots. It also eliminated same-day voter registration, and significantly reduced the number of early voting days. In a brutal finding last month, the Fourth Circuit struck down the law, in a blockbuster ruling which declared that the state legislature had acted with discriminatory intent when adopting the law, in violation of section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution’s Equal Protection clause. “Thus, in what comes as close to a smoking gun as we are likely to see in modern times, the State’s very justification for a challenged statute hinges explicitly on race — specifically its concern that African Americans, who had overwhelmingly voted for Democrats, had too much access to the franchise,” the three-judge panel wrote. North Carolina puts forward several arguments in its emergency petition: the Fourth Circuit’s decision invalidates voter ID laws around the country, effectively guts a controlling Supreme Court precedent, and creates chaos just months before a major election. Since the Fourth Circuit asserted discrimination could be inferred from the identification requirement (as African-Americans are uniformly less likely to have government-issued IDs), and because state legislators had sought data on voting patterns and race before adopting the law, the state argues that practically all state voter identification laws are endangered by the ruling, since most laws would satisfy at least one of those allegedly discriminatory criteria. The Supreme Court has previously held that state governments have a compelling interest in adopting voter ID laws. (RELATED: A Bad Week For Voter Identification Laws) The state’s lawyers further argue the Fourth Circuit’s ruling neuters Shelby, in that the decision made it harder to escape the preclearance process under section 2 than it was under the now defunct section 5. Until the Shelby ruling, states with a history of discrimination needed the approval of the U. S. Department of Justice before making changes to voting laws (called “preclearence.”) The high court essentially scuttled this practice in 2013, finding that the provision relied on antiquated data which therefore burdened the sovereignty of the states. North Carolina now argues that the formula the Fourth Circuit applied against it is even more stringent than the procedures the Supreme Court has already tossed in Shelby, and should therefore be vacated. Finally, the state alleges it will suffer irreparable harm — a key criterion for an emergency appeal — if the Fourth Circuit’s decision is not vacated. State officials say they have worked tirelessly to implement the voter ID requirement, and are only financially and logistically prepared for 10 days of early voting, as opposed to 17. Some legal observers questioned why the state had waited so long to file an emergency appeal. Seventeen days elapsed between the Fourth Circuit’s ruling and the North Carolina appeal, an unusually long period of time in the context of emergency litigation. Election law expert professor Rick Hasen of UC Irvine School of Law suggested in a post on his Election Law Blog last week that the state knows it cannot prevail at the Supreme Court, and would prefer to save face by blaming timing issues. Follow Kevin on Twitter Send tips to [email protected] . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

50 Ellen DeGeneres Defends Herself Against Critics Of Bolt Meme Ellen DeGeneres defended herself against critics who accused her of being racist after she shared a photoshopped picture of Usain Bolt. On Tuesday, the 58-year-old talk show host hit back after sharing a criticized picture she photoshopped riding the back of Summer Olympics Gold medalist Bolt and joked it was how she “runs errands.” (RELATED: Ellen DeGeneres Sued Over ‘Titty’ Joke) “I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country,” DeGeneres tweeted. “It is the furthest thing from who I am.” I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am. — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 16, 2016 In the original post, the talk show host wrote, “This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016” (RELATED: Hillary Interviews Ellen DeGeneres About Vice President Job) This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016 The photo of Bolt smiling and running way ahead of the competition went viral after the Jamaican sprinter took first place in the men’s 100 meter event at the Olympics in Rio over the weekend.

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

51 Study: 65% Of White Americans Would Love A Trumpist Party Those hoping Donald Trump losing the presidential election will vanquish his political movement may be in for some bad news, if one new study is proven right. Justin Gest, a public policy professor at George Mason University, wrote in Politico Magazine Tuesday that an extensive survey he conducted of white working-class politics found 65 percent of white Americans would support a “nativist” third party. Gest defined this party’s platform as “stopping mass immigration, providing American jobs to American workers, preserving America’s Christian heritage, and stopping the threat of Islam,” an agenda that is remarkably similar to Trump’s own campaign rhetoric. “Clearly, Trump’s allure is bigger than Trump himself,” the scholar concluded after stating the large number of Americans who support his hypothetical political group, which is apparently greater than the percentage of respondents who back Trump’s own campaign. (RELATED: Nationalism Beyond Trump) “65 percent is a whopping number — in fact, it’s significantly more than those who expressed support for Trump’s candidacy in my research,” Gest writes. The demographics of who would support this nationalist third party roughly correspond with Trump’s base of support. “[T]hose who would consider voting for this third party are more likely to be male, of lower socioeconomic status, without a university education and ideologically conservative — in other words, the Republican Party’s longtime base,” Gest says. “They are also more likely to be young (under 40 years old) — so this is not a phenomenon likely to pass quickly.” The George Mason professor believes this presents a serious question about the Republican Party’s future and demonstrates how Trumpism will survive no matter what the results are in November. “Based on my research, even were Trump to lose in 2016, his movement of supporters will likely yearn for others like him to fill the void in American politics. And if Republicans, in an attempt to appeal to independent voters and the growing minority population, pivot away from Trump’s rhetoric, they could face internal upheaval, and perhaps even widescale defection to a third party from this 65 percent of whites,” Gest argues. At the same time, he thinks that the GOP embracing Trumpism will usher “in an era of unprecedented Democratic dominance” due to the likelihood of turning away minority voters. The solution for the Republican Party, according to Gest, is to appeal to the problems of its white, working-class base without compromising its principles. On that subject, he offers the vague plans of “equal access to education, strategic taxation, economic development and fair market practices” to alleviate the alienation Trump’s base feels in 21st-century America. Whether those plans would actually do that, or even appeal to Trump’s voters, is unclear. However, Gest warns that the GOP must reckon with its own base — or face electoral doom. “Unless Republicans address the real problems experienced by their base, their schism will endure and a third party may rise.” Follow Scott on Twitter

2016-08-17 05:21 Deputy Editor dailycaller.com

52 Soros Took Credit For Senate Passing Immigration Reform Bill Left-wing billionaire George Soros’ non-profit network, the Open Society Foundations (OSF), is confident about the future success of its work in the field of immigration activism and may embark on a massive campaign on immigration issues in the near future. That’s according to a candid 62-page document reviewing OSF’s work on immigration reform discussed in May at the group’s board meeting in Montgomery, Ala. The document, which is one of 2,500 stolen from OSF in a massive hack and released over the weekend, shows that the Soros group believes that its $7.7 million investment in groups pushing for immigration reform was responsible for the passage of the Senate’s 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill. The bill, which was introduced by a bi-partistan group of senators known as the “Gang of Eight,” passed the upper chamber 68-32. Though the measure was quashed by House Republicans, Soros’ group believes that pro-immigration groups were made stronger because of the investment in activists, alliances, infrastructure and media outreach, the document shows. “Although [comprehensive immigration reform] was not achieved, winning the Senate with such a large, bipartisan majority was a partial victory and further than the movement had gotten in recent decades, and, as a result of the effort, the immigrant rights movement infrastructure matured and ultimately emerged stronger, more coordinated, and more cohesive,” reads the document, which includes a presentation from Ivy O. Suriyopas, a program officer with OSF’s U. S. Programs. In it, Suriyopas conducted an analysis of OSF’s spending on the immigration reform campaign to determine whether it was worth it. While she pointed to numerous shortcomings, she said she believed that the money and time pushing for comprehensive immigration reform was worth the investment. After an attempt at comprehensive immigration reform failed in 2007, OSF began investing heavily in a campaign “to enable the field to create the necessary conditions to security [comprehensive immigration reform] within five years.” To achieve that goal, the Soros network’s U. S. Programs Advisory Board authorized the creation of the Immigration Innovation Fund. Soros committed $15 million over the course of three years to fund the initiative. Spotting an opportunity in the wake of President Obama’s first amnesty executive action — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which was announced in June 2012 — OSF mobilized to form a coalition of activist groups and labor unions operating under the name Alliance for Citizenship (A4C). OSF gave A4C $4.7 million through April 2014 to act as a coordinating cody and a “conduit for pass-through funding.” Soros’ groups spent $7.725 million in all in 2013 to support immigration reform. According to Suriyopas, that spending was integral to getting immigration reform passed in the Senate. “OSPC’s significant investment in CIR, and A4C specifically, led to the passage of a historic bipartisan bill through the Senate,” the document reads. “While the compromise bill was imperfect, the alignment between the immigration groups, the Administration, and historically adversarial groups (including business, faith, and labor) was maintained throughout the process of securing the Senate bill.” According to the meeting documents, A4C’s objective was to develop a “coordinated national campaign, strengthen and align the progressive movement around immigration reform as well as coordinate with nontraditional allies (e.g. faith-based groups, business interests, law enforcement), recruit additional advocates, lobby key members of the Senate, and influence development of the legislation.” Suriyopas pointed to one tweak that OSF made in its 2013 initiative versus the 2007 immigration push. The new coalition “intentionally included” SEIU, the U. S.’s largest union for service industry workers, on one of its working groups in order to “avoid a fracturing of labor from the coalition.” A split between labor groups and pro-reform activists occurred during the 2007 fight for comprehensive immigration reform, according to the document. Suriyopas identified several reasons for immigration reform’s failure in 2013. Opponents to the measure “mounted a successful political and cultural fight,” immigrants and their advocates lacked electoral and political power to influence policymakers, and activist groups did not do enough to forge relationships with members of the House. But Suriyopas suggested that another coordinated, large-scale campaign may not be too far off in the future. “U. S. Programs needs to fund communications research and explore the timeline for another potential campaign or coalition down the line,” the document reads. “There has been an understanding among funders and the immigrant rights movement that building such short-term structures, and starting anew for the next effort, has led to stronger efforts and a stronger movement with each iteration,” it continues, noting that “there are many lessons to carry forward from the 2013 experience with A4C.” Follow Chuck on Twitter

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

53 14 Of Kaley Cuoco's Best Looks [SLIDESHOW] The beautiful Big Bang Theory actress is one of television’s biggest stars. Here’s a side of Kaley you don’t see enough of on- screen, all captured in these 14 photos.

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

54 Harvard Allows Women To Evade Single-Sex Club Ban Harvard University has assured a women-only off- campus club it will be allowed to ignore a ban on single-sex club membership, as long as it makes a cosmetic change to its bylaws. It has not extended the privilege to all-male clubs. Seneca, founded in 1999, is named after the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention that kickstarted the women’s rights movement in the U. S. The club has the explicit purpose of “strengthening opportunities for women at Harvard,” and it has never allowed men to join. Such a policy should run afoul of a rule enacted by Harvard last May , which prohibits members of single-sex clubs from captaining a sports team, leading a student organization, or being endorsed for fellowships like the Rhodes Scholarship. The rule was primarily intended to force several all-male final clubs at the school to go co-ed, after a report blamed the clubs for a large number of sexual assaults on campus. But because it applied to all single-sex clubs, it also encompasses the handful of all-female clubs at Harvard. Except now, apparently, it does not, because Seneca claims it has received a special dispensation from the school to continue being all-female. “Like Women in Business or Latinas Unidas, although men may apply, our membership can be made up wholly of women without incurring the sanctions of the administration’s new policy,” Seneca co-presidents Fran F. Swanson and Avni Nahar wrote in the email given to The Harvard Crimson. Supposedly, associate dean of student life David Friedrich explicitly assured the club in May, shortly after the rule was announced, that it could “continue to operate as it always has” as long as its rules no longer explicitly ban men. It’s a special exemption Harvard has apparently given to no other club, including any of the all-male ones. Friedrich told the Crimson that Seneca is in a special position because it is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the IRS, and therefore isn’t a purely social organization. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a campus civil liberties group that has strongly criticized Harvard’s push to sanction single- sex clubs, ridiculed the concession for undermining all the justifications Harvard gave for the sanctions in the first place. “This isn’t open. This isn’t transparency. And one certainly hopes it;s not in accordance with Harvard’s ‘deepest values,'” the group said. “This is encouraging a student group to blatantly lie about its policies and practices. It’s a disgrace to Harvard.” Send tips to [email protected] . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-08-17 05:21 dailycaller.com

55 Council Clears Last Hurdle to Get Bonds on Ballot By Leslee Kulba- In yet another stage of the rigmarole fast-tracked to get $74 million in bond projects on a referendum by November, a handful of people turned up to comment on the City of Asheville’s intentions. Not unusually, the comments sounded more like partisan positioning than factual exposition. Not off-base were the requests of those opposed that the city be more responsible with its money and not burden future generations with debt. Mayor Esther Manheimer took the opportunity to straighten the record on some claims. For example, the city had considered a bond package to fund public safety improvements, but council decided against it. Almost half the city’s budget already goes toward public safety. It is a council priority and so it should be supported structurally by the general fund budget instead of with here-today- gone-tomorrow bond revenues. Furthermore, the state does not allow the city to use bonds to fund capital projects or operations, like teacher pay, for schools. Manheimer further wanted to clarify that paying the $74 million in bonds would amount to a 4.1-cent increase in the property tax rate. To illustrate, she said that would equate to $110 a year for somebody who owns a $275,000 home. She then said 4.1 cents would be the maximum rate increase, it being possible to offset the amount should new development boom. No mention was made of any possibility that the tax base could actually contract in the next decade as the debt is paid off. Doing a wee bit of math for the folks, Councilman Cecil Bothwell said the increase for somebody who rented said hypothetical house would only be about $10/month. “It’s not a big hit,” said he. “And it will do a lot of good.” Following three public hearings, council unanimously approved putting the following three measures on the November ballot: (1) Transportation Networks: At a maximum of $32 million, proposed projects would significantly improve the transportation network to include streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, greenways and bus shelters; (2) Parks and Recreation facility improvements: At a maximum of $17 million, proposed projects would make major improvements to passive and active recreational facilities across the city; and (3) Affordable Housing: At a maximum of $25 million, proposed programs would support affordable housing within the city limits. Citizen Sidney Bach had complained that, with interest, taxpayers would be on the hook for closer to $110 million. He found it ironic that the city would be taking out debt, translating to a property tax increase, in the name of an Affordable Housing bond. Belaboring what’s obvious to all but Keynesians, he said paying off the bond would increase housing costs for all but the subsidized while the real benefactors, who he referred to as “private equity interests,” would be “laughing all the way to the bank.” Bach saw the bond referenda as creating a “$74 million slush fund” for the “pie in the sky” agendas of unelected city staff members. Unfortunately, like many, he thought anything said at the “so-called public hearing” would “fall on deaf ears,” as it was put on only as “window dressing” for foregone conclusions. Citizen Chris Peterson also faulted council for not being fiscally responsible. He agreed with Bach that interest on the bond issues would be around $30 million. The proposed bond issue, he said, was the logical conclusion of all the mistakes the board had made over the last eight years. Council had “taxed and taxed and fee-ed us to death,” so with those options exhausted, the bonds represented a fresh source of revenue. Meanwhile, he lodged council had spent down their reserves while paying some staffers as much as $200,000 a year. He compared that to $28,000, the average income of Asheville citizens. “That’s very wrong,” said he, before urging council to get “business people” involved in the budget process. Bothwell replied that for a very large part of his life, he has been an independent business owner in the area. Even though he now makes less than $29,000, he contended, “our taxes are an amazing bargain.” During the conversations, Bothwell threw a wet towel on aspirations of anybody hoping to prevent council from moving ahead with the referendum. He clarified the public hearings that night were not so much an opportunity for the public speak in favor of or against the bond issues; but rather to decide whether a referendum should be put before the public to allow debate. Three citizens spoke in favor of the bond proposals. They only asked the city to distribute proceeds more equitably among minorities. Betty Council said since 13 percent of Asheville’s population is African-American, at least 13-20 percent of revenues from each of the three bonds should go toward African-American communities. Greg Borom, representing Children First/Communities in Schools of Buncombe County, spoke on behalf of children and families in poverty, whom his agency serves. He was particularly “encouraged and pleased” by council’s emphasis on affordable housing. Citing “racial equity” and “economic diversity,” he thanked council for subsidizing “Deeply and Extremely Affordable Housing;” but asked the board to consider digging deeper to reach out to persons earning 30 percent of AMI or less. He then encouraged council to, in the interest of “closing the racial wealth gap,” and in spite of second-guessing that followed the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, renew efforts to promote low-income homeownership. In response, Manheimer said the data the city had collected through a contract with a polling firm indicated 80 percent of African-Americans supported the proposed Parks and Recreation referendum. Among its “great African-American components” is the completion of the final phase of the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center. Regular commenter Timothy Sadler agreed with Borom that the city needed to pursue “creative ways to encourage home ownership” and address “racial inequality.” Council had a “wonderful opportunity to get outside of the box.” During council’s regular public comment segment, Sadler plugged HempX Asheville. He repeatedly encouraged members of council to attend the event, which will take place August 19-20 at the Highland Brewing Company. Sadler reiterated his slogan, “Hemp is the love child of economic development and environmental protection.”

2016-08-17 05:21 By Leslee www.thetribunepapers.com

56 Silicon Valley tech companies make strides to encourage voter turnout in November And for many Silicon Valley techies there will be no excuses — such as a pesky job to report to — to keep them from the polls this year. As part of a growing push to drive more California voters to the polls, tech startups are launching voter registration campaigns, partnering on voter turnout initiatives and even pledging to give employees the day off on Nov. 8, according to an article this week in the San Jose Mercury news. The article notes that many 'valley techies' will have no excuses for not voting like a job or other reasons not to go to the polls. In fact, the article notes that Google added voter registration information on its main website along with Airbnb which celebrated its anniversary as a company by urging visitors to vote. The article continues to note that Airbnb, Lyft and Salesforce have partnered with the TurboVote Challenge to help the U. S. reach 80 per cent voter turn out by 2020. Further, many tech startups are urging their employees to skip work on election day, Bloomberg reported. Companies that have joined the Take off Election Day campaign include Twilio, TaskRabbit, Survey Monkey, Square, Spotify and DoorDash. Venture capital firms, including Cowboy Ventures and August Capital, also have made the pledge. VC Hunter Walk has been leading the campaign. Yuri Sagalov, co-founder and CEO of Palo Alto-based file-syncing platform AeroFS and part-time Y Combinator partner, voiced his support Monday in a blog post. “Startup founders and tech execs, make it easy for your employees to exercise their rights,” he wrote. “Add your name to the list. Give them the day off.” The push could be a boon for Democrats, the article suggests as many Silicon Valley tech leaders have been very vocal about their dislike of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Case in point — an open anti-Trump letter signed by dozens of Silicon Valley’s prominent tech CEOs and VCs. The tech companies are making the right moves as in the US voter turnout is at just 54 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots during the 2012 presidential election, according to the Pew Research Center, the US lags behind its peers in voter turnout — landing 31st among 35 developed countries studied.

2016-08-17 05:40 www.thedrum.com

57 Native Americans plan to make history in the US election More Native Americans are participating in the 2016 election than ever before. Eight indigenous candidates are running for Congress, up from two in 2014. Over 90 are running for state legislatures, again exceeding previous years. Hillary Clinton ran campaign ads in Navajo and met with tribal leaders in Iowa, Washington, Arizona and California during the presidential primaries. Bernie Sanders met with 90 leaders in total, a political record. "This is the best campaign ever in Indian Country," says Nicole Willis, member of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla and former advisor to Bernie Sanders. "There's no question about that. " Native Americans, who make up approximately 1.7% of the US population, are unlikely to determine a presidential election. But they do play an important role in shaping local politics and swinging votes for seats in Congress. Source: National Congress of American Indians Almost 15% of Alaska's population is indigenous, which played an important part in bringing Senator Lisa Murkowski to victory in 2010. Local districts of North Dakota, New Mexico and other Western states have large and in some cases majority Native American populations. "Tribes are organised entities that tend to vote as a group," says John Dossett, General Counsel within the National Congress of American Indians. "When they turn up and vote in one block, they can have a huge impact at a state level. " Mark Trahant, former president of the Native American Journalists Association, believes indigenous votes could strip Republicans of as many as six Congressional seats come election time in November. "Montana is one of the most important states," he says. Denise Juneau, a member of the Mandan Hidatsa Tribes, is running for Senate there. "She's raised a lot of money. It could be tight race with [Republican] Ryan Zinke. " Why is 2016 proving to be such a vibrant year for indigenous politics? Many Native American commentators point to President Barack Obama's efforts to improve relations with the country's tribal nations. In the course of his two terms in office, he has settled hundreds of legal disputes with indigenous communities, passed favourable legislation, like the Indian Health Care Improvement Act , and established an annual conference for tribal leaders to meet at the White House. Ties between the federal government and many Native American communities, some of whom were denied the vote until the 1950s , have never been better. "Obama's commitment to young natives in particular has had a tremendous impact," says Erik Stegman, executive director of the Center for Native American Youth. "We've seen a lot of interest in this election and a large number campaigning for Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. " Close to 32% of Native Americans are under the age of 18. Government- funded programmes, like Generation Indigenous, which seeks to empower native millennials, have been battling to inspire this age group for years. "The US political system was not designed for us," says Jaynie Parrish, an advisor to Barack Obama during his 2012 campaign and a member of the Navajo nation. "Getting young people involved is incredibly difficult. But we are learning to play the game. " Except for pockets of Republican support in Arizona, Nevada and a significant following in Oklahoma , Native Americans are overwhelmingly Democrats. Close to 70% voted for Barak Obama in 2012. Of the 94 indigenous candidates running for office this year , 75 are Democrats, 14 are Republicans and four are independent. The Democratic party has almost 150 native delegates, who have stake in electing presidential nominees during the primary voting stage. During the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia, these individuals played a visible role in proceedings, calling out state votes in the nomination process and speaking on the opening day of the ceremony. At the Republican Convention in Cleveland, only one Native American delegate represented the party. Among Native communities, Republican nominee Donald Trump is widely regarded as a threatening figure. While speaking on a radio show in 1993, he said "I think I might have more Indian blood than a lot of the so-called Indians," referring to native people he was competing with in the casino industry at the time. In February 2000, Trump paid over $1m (£774,000) for negative advertisements depicting the St Regis Mohawk people in New York State as "criminals. " During this year's presidential campaign, he has repeatedly referred to Senator Elizabeth Warren as "Pocahontas," mocking her claim to have distant Native American ancestry. 'We have a lot of fear as to what he might do," says Arlan Melendez, member of the National Congress of American Indians and Chairman of the Reno Sparks Indian Colony. "I haven't met one tribe out of all 567 that has said they will support Trump. " Despite the increased enthusiasm of native voters, challenges remain. Communities living in remote areas, like the Goshute reservation in Utah, will have to travel as far as 140 miles to reach their nearest polling station on election day on 8 November. Language barriers, polling closures and voting identification requirements hinder Native American election participation in many other areas. "We are having to deal with a colonial legacy that was intended to exclude us," said Chase Iron Eyes, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe running for the House of Representatives in North Dakota. "A lot of people think we were all killed, that the Americans and Europeans wiped us out. But we are still here. " Images credited to the WatchCut , an online video production house which ran a series exploring Native Americans ideas and identity

2016-08-17 05:21 By Charlie www.bbc.co.uk

58 Crimea crisis: Ukraine-Russia tensions spill on to the beach Barbed wire, armed soldiers and several hefty concrete checkpoints. This is how many Ukrainians start and finish their summer holiday in Russian-annexed Crimea. Queues of cars snake for several hours as people wait to visit relatives or get to the peninsula for a beach break. Lorry-loads of watermelons are sold by the side of the road while people wait to be checked or waved through, in the southern region of Kherson, next to Crimea, where Kiev's vast Dnipro river enters the Black Sea. Aside from the odd soldier dug in by the side of the road and the vigilance of Ukraine's border guards, there is little to suggest that the country is preparing for Russian military action from the south. Most analysts think any such action would be highly unlikely. But after Russia seized Crimea in March 2014 without firing a shot, Ukraine has learnt to expect the unexpected from its powerful neighbour. Vigilance is the watchword of Ukraine's National Border Guard. Spokesman Ivan Shevcov said his colleagues were "prepared for any type of action from the Russian side". The war of words between Russia and Ukraine has intensified following Moscow's accusation that Kiev plotted a sabotage attack in Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin promised a response. Russia has moved more military hardware on to the peninsula. And pictures of the Russian navy carrying out military drills in Crimea to counter the threat of saboteurs were quickly beamed around the world. This week Russia is carrying out more exercises in Crimea to counter the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has put his military on high alert. He insists the Russian claim of a sabotage attack by Ukrainian special forces was cooked up by the Kremlin to justify future attacks. However little, if anything, has changed at the checkpoints in and out of Crimea. One man from the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa said he went there only to visit his elderly mother who lived there and wouldn't leave. When she dies, he will not travel there any more. For Igor, travelling to Crimea to visit relatives, the latest rhetoric is "mostly exaggerated". "Whatever you see on TV, (with) saboteur groups arrested, I think this can be faked by any side. Each side can create provocations. " With his tennis racket bag slung over his shoulder, Artyom, a Ukrainian probably in his 20s, explains how pleasant his holiday in Crimea has been, and how friendly the people there were. And he is not alone. "The Russians say one thing and the Ukrainians another. I don't know who to trust," says an elderly woman with sunglasses. The line between fact and fiction is often blurred when it comes to Russia's tactics and actions in relation to Ukraine. Kiev calls this "hybrid warfare", which mixes propaganda with cyber attacks and semi-clandestine operations. Tamara is driving across to Crimea, where she owns property, with her chihuahua Charlie. She might not believe all the rumours in Kiev. However, she does not trust the Russian version of recent events. "I think [the Russians] did this intentionally. But I don't know why they did this during the holiday season. Everything was fine when I came here in June with my mum. " Tamara's mother-in-law and daughter were going to join her on the trip to Crimea, but because of what they had seen on the news they decided to stay in Kiev. Across the water from Crimea in the small town of Skadovsk, the melee of swimsuits and food-sellers on the beach is proof that many Ukrainians will simply not travel to Russian-annexed Crimea as a point of principle. Few seem to notice the Ukrainian National Border Guard soldiers high above in their concrete look-out post at the back of the beach, behind an invisible network of trenches. For all the political rhetoric of recent days, the fun-loving normality of the summer season in southern Ukraine goes on.

2016-08-17 05:21 By Tom www.bbc.co.uk

59 My friend the North Korean defector It was reported on Tuesday that a North Korean diplomat in London, Thae Yong Ho, had defected to a third country. The BBC's Korea correspondent, Steve Evans, has pleasant memories of Mr Thae - who, he says, always seemed unusually at home in the suburbs of West London. The last time I saw Thae Yong Ho we were eating a curry in his favourite Indian restaurant in Acton, in West London. He was eating a curry without rice, actually, because we had been discussing pre-diabetes, a condition which middle-aged men who enjoy food come to think about a lot, usually at the suggestion of their doctors. His GP had told him that he should think of diabetes as a monster running towards him. He could slow it down or he could speed it up, but towards him it was coming. Rice and other carbohydrates would bring the monster closer faster. Now I don't know where Mr Thae is. I sent an email to his private address but reply came there none. He told me he would be heading back to Pyongyang this summer at the end of his stint as a diplomat for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as he called North Korea. He showed me not the faintest sign that it was his intention not to return with his family, his wife and son. But he seemed so British. He seemed so at home. He seemed so middle- class, so conservative, so dapper. He would have fitted in nicely in suburbia. In fact, he did fit in nicely in suburbia. He told me how he had been passing the local tennis club in Ealing and had seen a sign asking for new members. In he went and joined, and became a stalwart of the tennis club. He took to tennis when his wife complained about his obsession with golf. There must be a million conversations like it in the shires - his wife told him it was either golf or her. If he didn't put down the putter, she was off to Pyongyang. For North Koreans, as for everyone else, love (often) conquers all. So he put down the golf bag and took up the tennis racket which - the tennis club being closer - left him more time for home. We often talked of family - and health. The children of North Korean diplomats in Britain go to local state schools. They sometimes note how their children's first words of English are "Stop doing that! " or "Enough! " - echoing the teachers of Acton. Mr Thae's son had a degree in the economics of public health from a British university. His son had concluded from his studies that what Pyongyang really needed to make it a world-class city was more disabled parking spaces. I'm no expert in these things but I am sceptical. Of all the things Pyongyang needs, more parking space for the disabled is not top of the list. More cars, maybe. More freedom, certainly. Disabled parking can come later. That is my opinion. If the story that Mr Thae has done a bunk is true, I am pleased. He had never given any hint of disloyalty to the regime, not a flicker of doubt. But when you talk to North Korean officials you know where the red lines are. In Pyongyang there are the hardliners from the security agency - hatchet- faced men with bulges under their identical suits - but there are also the minders from the foreign ministry, with whom human engagement is possible. They can be helpful, though never disloyal to the regime. It is more than their jobs are worth - more than their lives are worth. And so it was with Mr Thae - helpful within the constraints of his job. I should say that while there is no doubt fear in the minds of public officials there is also, I think, genuine patriotism and even pride in the country. Mr Thae must have done a lot of dirty work, despite showing such a charming face to me in the curry house in Acton. Was he one of the two men who turned up at the barber's shop in London to complain about the picture of Kim Jong-un with the caption, "Bad hair day? " Did he follow North Korean defectors in the Korean enclave in New Malden in South London? I don't know, but it was part of the job as a representative of Pyongyang's despotism. He was one of the minders escorting Kim Jong-un's brother to an Eric Clapton concert in the Albert Hall - he is the balding man seen in the first few seconds of this video: According to the South Korean media, the diplomat has defected because of pressure from Pyongyang to counter bad publicity. In this regard the BBC - to its great credit - may be to blame. On our last trip to North Korea, BBC reports upset the regime greatly. My colleague, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, was banned from the country for life and was lucky not to get hard labour. I can imagine the phone calls: "How could you let this happen? " "Why did you trust the the capitalist lackeys? " They had already said the opening of the BBC's new Korean Service would be viewed as an act of war. If you were Mr Thae, what would you do? Get on the plane to Pyongyang to get more abuse and perhaps even severe punishment, or seek asylum with your family in the UK, or perhaps the US? I do not know - but there's got to be a spy novel or a movie in it. Despite the skulduggery which Mr Thae may have been involved in, I like him. It should be a movie with a happy ending, perhaps with Mr Thae playing tennis unobtrusively in his later years in a quiet American small town. Follow @BBCNewsMagazine on Twitter and on Facebook

2016-08-17 05:21 www.bbc.co.uk

60 Newspaper headlines: Radical cleric Choudary guilty and Laura Trott's fourth gold Cyclist Laura Trott is pictured on the front pages after she became Britain's most decorated female Olympian with her gold medal win in the omnium. But it is the conviction of radical cleric Anjem Choudary on a terrorism charge that dominates the headlines. The Guardian says he faces up to 10 years in jail after urging support for the so-called Islamic State group.

2016-08-17 05:21 By Alex www.bbc.co.uk

61 Meningitis W: Students urged to get vaccine Young people starting university or college this autumn are being urged to get a vaccine against meningitis. Public Health England says the jab will help protect against meningitis W in particular - a sometimes deadly strain that is on the rise. Officials say new students are at risk as they often mix closely with groups of unfamiliar people - some who may unknowingly carry the bug. Scotland and Wales have also renewed calls for students to take up the jab. The injection - known as the Men ACWY vaccine - was first introduced for new university students in the UK last year. It protects against the A, C, Y and W strains of the disease - all forms that can cause death or disability. But health experts say they are particularly concerned about "a highly aggressive strain" of meningitis W bacteria. Some 22 people got meningitis W in 2009 in England, compared with almost 200 people in the last 12 months. Meningitis W infection is fatal in one in 10 cases and can lead to long-term health problems including deafness, epilepsy and amputations. Amy Davis, 24, from Surrey, got meningitis W when she was 18 years old - before the MenACWY vaccine programme was introduced. She said: "At first I thought I had the flu and felt very tired. But by the next day, I was covered in a rash, felt extremely unwell and was rushed to hospital. "I spent three weeks in intensive care on life-support. My organs failed, and my family was told I was the most unwell person in the hospital. " The infection spread to her bloodstream and bones and damaged her feet. She had toes on both feet amputated, and later her left leg was also amputated. She added: "I would encourage everyone to get the vaccine who can. "It takes just five minutes, and is just one injection that can save your life or save you from getting horrific side-effects. " GPs in England are inviting 17 and 18-year-olds to come for a vaccine. First-time students under the age of 25 are eligible too. People who missed out on the jab last year should also see their doctor, experts say. And though students are the focus of the campaign, other young people are strongly advised to get the jab - whether they are planning on attending university or college or not. Dr Mary Ramsay, at Public Health England, said students needed to remain vigilant to signs of the disease. She added: "Protecting young people from this potentially deadly disease as they embark upon one of the most important periods of their lives is vitally important. "The vaccination will save lives and prevent lifelong devastating disability. " Meanwhile Liz Brown, at the charity Meningitis Now, said people must not get complacent about the threat of meningitis. She added: "Up to a quarter of students carry the bacteria that can cause meningitis compared to one in 10 of the general population. "In the UK, every university could experience at least one case of meningitis amongst its students within the first term. " The vaccine is also being rolled out for younger teenagers at school across the UK.

2016-08-17 05:21 By Smitha www.bbc.co.uk

62 62 Tax avoidance: Accountants face tougher penalties Accountants or advisers who help people bend the rules to gain a tax advantage never intended face tougher fines under new penalties proposed by the Treasury. A fine of up to 100% of the tax that was avoided - including via off-shore havens - has been suggested in the new rules, published for consultation. Currently those who advise on tax face little risk, while their clients face penalties only if they lose in court. The rules would "root out" tax avoidance at source, the Treasury said. The rules in the consultation document also make it simpler to enforce penalties when avoidance schemes are defeated. "These tough new sanctions will make would-be enablers think twice and in turn reduce the number of schemes on the market," said financial secretary to the Treasury Jane Ellison. Until now HM Revenue and Customs has concentrated on tackling the individuals who don't pay their tax, while advisers and promoters of tax avoiding schemes have remained shadowy figures in the background. The intention is that will stop once there is a penalty for the professionals involved of up to 100% of the amount avoided in a scheme. The government isn't targeting legitimate ways of cutting tax bills, such as tax breaks for putting money in pensions or Individual Savings Accounts. The avoidance it's trying to root out involves bending the rules to gain a tax advantage that Parliament never intended, an abuse which costs nearly £3bn a year. Accountants see the move as a significant change, which could result in them paying fines even if the advice they give isn't illegal. The new rules come after the government set up a new task force to investigate allegations of tax-dodging and money laundering in light of the Panama Papers leak which lifted the lid on how the rich and powerful use tax havens to hide their wealth. Following the Panama Papers scandal the five largest economies in the European Union, the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, agreed to share information on secret owners of businesses and trusts. The Treasury said the move would make it harder for businesses and wealthy individuals to operate without paying correct taxes. And speaking in July, new Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to crack down on tax avoidance, saying "tax is the price we pay for living in a civilised society". "It doesn't matter to me whether you're Amazon, Google or Starbucks, you have a duty to put something back, you have a debt to fellow citizens and you have a responsibility to pay your taxes," she said at the time. However, earlier this month the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Responsible Tax accused the government of undermining efforts to end tax secrecy and said it should force multinational companies such as Google to publish information on their activities in every country where they operate.

2016-08-17 05:21 www.bbc.co.uk

63 Did Daphne du Maurier predict Brexit? Breaking apart from Europe, resentment towards Westminster elites, financial uncertainty - sound familiar? Back in 1972, before the UK had even joined the Common Market, Daphne du Maurier had anticipated it all in her novel Rule Britannia. So how much did she get right? Du Maurier's novel imagines a future UK facing severe economic instability after joining and then leaving the EU's predecessor, the Common Market. The electorate has voted to leave in a referendum and the government has instead formed a new union with the United States. However, when the marines arrive on English soil, it begins to look like an invasion. Du Maurier was writing after the 1970 general election had brought Edward Heath's Conservative government to power, promising to take the UK into the Common Market. Though the referendum does not take centre stage in Rule Britannia - acting rather as the context for the US occupation - the text is laced with references to the political events and public attitudes surrounding the vote. In Du Maurier's imagined referendum the government has "backtracked" on its original support for the Common Market and now opposes British membership. If this contrasts with the Conservative government's support for the Remain campaign this year, the book still has clear parallels with political events, according to Professor Helen Taylor, of Exeter University. She cites one section of the novel, in which the prime minister bemoans the political and financial repercussions of the leave vote, saying it "brought great economic difficulties, as I feared would be the case and as I warned you at the time, and our political autonomy and military supremacy were also endangered". "That sounds exactly like [David] Cameron," Prof Taylor suggests. So what else may Du Maurier have got right? The road to Brexit One year after the novel was published, the UK joined the Common Market. A referendum was held two years later in which the electorate voted to remain. Dr Hugh Pemberton, a historian at the University of Bristol, says even the idea of the UK holding a referendum was "prescient" for 1972. "Britain had never had a referendum at that point, though they had been held in other countries," he says. Du Maurier also anticipated how sections of society would come to view the EU as a malign force. Like many of her novels, Rule Britannia is set in Cornwall - a region which voted Leave in June. In the book, it's the Cornish people who initiate the resistance against the new union between the United States and the UK. "The obvious analogy is the feeling they [the Cornish] were being run by the EU," Prof Taylor says. Du Maurier's England also remains a divided political nation, with London- based characters such as the prime minister and financiers showing support for union with the United States, while much of the rest of the country fiercely resists. In the 2016 referendum London was the only English region which voted to remain in the EU. Novelists Bill Broun and James Hawes, whose works have more recently anticipated Brexit, agree that Du Maurier was on the mark. "A big cause of Brexit is London-centrism," says Broun, whose debut novel Night of the Animals imagined a dystopian Brexit world. "There's almost a cultural industry of sneering at the provinces," he says. For Mr Hawes, author of the 2005 satire Speak for England, Britain's exit from the EU was precisely the result of those cultural divisions. "It's all because the Westminster elite didn't see the concerns of ordinary people," he says. Du Maurier also hints that nostalgia for past political arrangements - particularly when the UK was closer to the Commonwealth nations - were behind the referendum result in Rule Britannia. After the vote, one character expresses delight at plans for the "English- speaking countries" to come together, claiming "you won't get the foreigners trying to push us around now". Matthew Francis, a political historian at the University of Birmingham, says variants of that "foreigners" argument were "definitely" part of the 2016 Brexit campaign. "Obviously one of the key slogans was 'Vote Leave, take back control' and that was all about supposedly Britain leaving the EU and power being relocated from Brussels back to Westminster," he explains. Closer economic ties with the Commonwealth were also presented as one "possible economic outcome" by Leave campaigners, he says. In Du Maurier's novel, the UK faces rising prices and "acute" unemployment after leaving the Common Market. Those events have not happened in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 referendum, but Mr Francis says we should not write them off yet. "Obviously leaving has had some effect [on the British economy] - just look at the pound", Mr Francis says, referring to the fall in sterling since the EU referendum result. But one major aspect of the novel is likely to remain fictitious, according to Mr Broun - the occupation of the UK by American forces. "I think if that happens, it would be a dark day, that's for sure. "

2016-08-17 05:21 By Rachael www.bbc.co.uk

64 Locals divided over Druridge Bay coal mine Druridge Bay is seven miles of wide, sandy coastline in Northumberland, north east England. It doesn't have special protected status and it's not an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but for people who live here and the many visiting tourists, it's the jewel in the area's crown. Or perhaps more like a hidden gem. Lynne Tate lives in the area and spends time at the beach almost every day, come rain or shine. From the top of the sand dunes it is clear to see what makes this place so precious. "It's special because it's quiet," Lynne says. "It's tranquil and the wildlife is vast. " So, like many others from the Save Druridge Campaign , Lynne was horrified to learn that permission had been granted by Northumberland County Council for a new opencast coal mine, called Highthorn, to open just 400m away from the dunes. "The first thing you are going to notice is the 300 HGVs that are going to be coming in and out of Highthorn opencast mine every single day," she says. Plus there's the blasting that will happen up to four times a day. "It's going to affect wildlife greatly, will cause dust, pollution, lights in the sky at night - generally spoil the tranquillity. It spoils everything that this place is well-known for," says Lynne. Just on the other side of the sand dunes, is the bustling Drift Cafe at Cresswell. Owner Duncan Lawrence is worried the mine will deter tourists and seriously affect his business. "We have plans to build a bunk-house for cyclists and walkers, to extend the cafe and to build a car park. These plans will be put in jeopardy," he says. Down the road the effects of the prospective mine are already being felt. Neil Fairclough is company secretary of Eltham Caravan parks, which has been run from the location as a family business for 26 years. Looking out from his site office, the boundary of the proposed mine lies just two fields away. "People don't come to a caravan to listen to all that noise," he says. Even before the plans for the mine were approved by Northumberland Council, Neil says business was already down by "a six-figure sum". The plans have been referred to the government for review but no decision is expected until Parliament reconvenes in September. It's not only locals who are against the plan. Guy Shrubsole, a Friends of the Earth campaigner, says: "While we wait for the final decision from government we can only reflect on what a special place Druridge Bay is. It's clear to anyone who cares to look that an opencast coal mine would completely ruin the bay, cause massive disruption and only drive tourists away, and why? So a dying source of energy can wreck our climate. " Of course the irony with all of this is that much of the landscape in this part of Northumberland was shaped by opencast mining that is still taking place inland. Coal mining runs deep in the history of this part of Britain. It has torn up the countryside before, but in the decades that have followed, the land has recovered. The Highthorn mine at Druridge is a seven-year project and after that time it will be rehabilitated. This means there's nothing to worry about in the long run, according to Banks Group, the local company behind the mine. Jeannie Kielty is its development relations co-ordinator. She cites the nature reserve at Oakenshore, near Durham, as an example of how successful this rehabilitation can be. Created from one of the old surface mines that Banks used to operate, it's an impressive place with lakes and green meadows carpeted with flowers, all surrounded by a forest of trees. She does admit that it's taken 15 years to get to this stage, but is adamant that tourism and mining can co-exist. The tourist attraction Northumberlandia is one example. Using the waste heaps from the Shotton mine next door that's still going strong, the company has created a series of landscaped hills in the shape of a woman. From the top you can look down into the mine itself. The Highthorn site will mostly be converted back into farmland, with some land becoming a nature reserve. Money will also go towards developing local tourism. But even if the mine at Druridge Bay can be rehabilitated, is a new coal mine even needed? Last year was terrible for the UK industry. Overall coal production was the lowest on record, with imports hitting a 15-year low. Demand for coal by electricity generators was also down by a quarter. In May this year there were two days where the UK electricity generated from coal hit zero for the first time ever. Plus the government has promised to phase out coal-generated power entirely by 2025. Banks Group has mothballed its Rusha mine in Scotland early , because it couldn't get a good enough price for the coal. Nevertheless, the company promises its new development will provide 50 new jobs for the area. Three miles down the road from Druridge Bay is the village of Widdrington Station. The majority view here is that the mine should go ahead. One man who did not want to be named says the area desperately needs the jobs. Another woman who works at the supermarket has a partner working at a different mine that is coming to the end of its life and is facing redundancy. "I think it should go ahead, opencast mining has been here for a lot of years and it has never hurt anyone. It's a really beneficial thing for us… it needs to go ahead. " But is the short-term preservation of jobs really enough to make the new mine worth it? Jimmy Aldridge, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research, says that while it is important to respect the history of coal mining in the area, the government needs to think about what happens when there is no demand for coal beyond 2025. "Any new opencast coal mine is only a short-term development, we need to think about what happens to employment longer term," he argues. "In seven years those jobs will disappear and we need to think what happens to those jobs when it gets to the end of the life of that particular project, how to retrain and re-skill [the workers]. " Banks Group argues there will always be a place for coal in the UK, and importantly the mine will help reduce reliance on imported coal from Russia and Colombia. Nevertheless, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, has written to the Communities Secretary, Greg Clark, asking him to intervene and remove the application from the control of Northumberland County Council. It's a drastic step, and still may not stop Druridge Bay from becoming the site of Britain's newest coal mine.

2016-08-17 05:21 By Marie www.bbc.co.uk

65 Delivery anywhere: Why cost and speed are not enough for online orders There was a time when pizza was the only product that could feasibly be delivered in 30 minutes or less. But then along came Amazon, which Michael Berelian, managing director at media and marketing services company Mindshare NA, noted has set the bar in terms of quick, free shipping while most other retailers lack the infrastructure to deliver within a similar time frame and remain profitable. What’s more, Amazon has even upped the stakes with delivery of certain items in one day – or even hours in some cases, he noted. At the same time, Ben Sun, general partner at Primary Venture Partners and an investor in Jet.com, said the trend toward urbanization means same- day delivery is an even bigger opportunity for those willing to seize it. And that, in turn, means a potentially bright future for third party delivery services like Instacart, Google Shopping Express, Postmates and Deliv. And while it’s more complicated than simply whatever retailer delivers fastest will quote-unquote win, there’s certainly a lot of innovation going on as retailers, couriers, start-ups and even brands attempt to strike the right balance of cost, speed and convenience to both level the playing field with Amazon, but also make consumers’ lives easier. Here’s a look at how the delivery landscape is changing, enabling delivery anywhere – and even circumventing delivery people in some cases. Shipping from store For his part, Jason Goldberg, senior vice president of commerce at interactive agency Razorfish, pointed to “clever supply chain hacks” such as retailers like Best Buy and Target shipping goods from stores rather than fulfillment centers. “They were able to ship items that were closer to the consumer and provide one- and two-day deliveries to more customers at a low price,” Goldberg said. “Both companies were able to get their delivery times below Amazon’s by leveraging their large networks of stores while keeping shipping costs under control.” On-Demand Further, other retailers are experimenting with services like Uber to help deliver packages instead of just people, Goldberg said. And Phil Granof, CMO of mobile retail platform NewStore, noted Lyft is another potential player in this game. “Customers do not need to be at their home or office to receive their goods: handoff is now possible anywhere – a coffee shop, for example, using the same borderless location ability and attitude that powers Uber,” Granof said. Subscription services Meanwhile, some retailers are experimenting with subscription services as a happy medium. Goldberg said this includes Dollar Shave Club, as well as Amazon Subscribe & Save, in which consumers subscribe to items and select delivery frequency. But Berelian noted ShopRunner is another example of a membership service similar to Amazon Prime – and one that covers many retailers. “This is a good example of retailers and brands tapping into a solution to keep up with the expectation of quick and free shipping,” he said. “Keeping up doesn't make you a market leader though — it simply allows you to compete. Many brick-and-click retailers are struggling to keep up and innovate in the space of delivery.” But this is where it starts to get interesting. Lockers Why wait for a delivery – or risk a missed delivery attempt – when you could simply pick up an order at an appointed location? That’s the idea behind self-service options like Amazon Locker, which allow customers to choose a secure pickup location for their orders. According to Amazon , its Lockers are “available in a variety of locations throughout the U. S.” And, Seth Kakuske, product manager at Veriship, which builds software for shippers, said, Amazon is looking at expanding the service in Europe . Walmart, too, says it is testing self-service lockers at ten locations in the Washington DC area. And, Kakuske noted, even UPS has its own so-called Access Point Lockers . And that is perhaps in part because fast delivery isn’t just about a good customer experience. There are also backend advantages, such as reducing overall delivery costs, Kakuske said. “If the carrier can deliver your package to you the first time, then they don’t have to keep spending money on a courier’s time, truck costs and opportunity costs to re-attempt the same delivery,” he added. In-car delivery But what if you didn’t have to go anywhere at all? In fact, what if your order just appeared in your car? As if it was left by magic package delivery elves? That’s precisely what a number of car manufacturers and couriers are piloting in Europe. DHL and Smart, for example, are partnering to test an in-car delivery program in several German cities later this year. The press release notes it is “a new and attractive service for a young, extremely online savvy target group” that seeks to “improve the quality of urban life. " Volvo, too, has teamed up with order delivery start-up urb-it for a service it says promises in-car delivery of online orders within two hours to customers in Stockholm. The trial will expand to other European cities this year and more than 200 cities worldwide by 2025, Volvo said. It is an expansion of an in-car delivery service Volvo launched on Black Friday last year. “With our in-car delivery service, we effectively turn your car into a delivery location and assign a one-time digital key to the delivery person,” said Björn Annwall, senior vice president of marketing sales and service at Volvo Car Group, in a statement. To be fair, Amazon tested a similar delivery service with Audi owners in Munich in 2015. An Amazon rep, however, was not available for further comment by deadline. Drones And while this doesn’t constitute magic package delivery elves per se, drones have plenty of their own allure. Take Prime Air , for example. Amazon says this “future delivery system” will potentially deliver packages in 30 minutes or less – just like pizza delivery men and women of yore. “Putting Prime Air into service will take some time, but we will deploy when we have the regulatory support needed to realize our vision,” Amazon says. Other companies like Google and Walmart are also reportedly working on their own drone delivery schemes . And drone delivery service Flirtey recently partnered with convenience store 7-Eleven on what it called the first-ever FAA-approved drone deliveries — of Slurpees, a chicken sandwich, donuts, coffee and candy. According to Jake Rheude, director of business development and marketing for Red Stag Fulfillment, an order fulfillment company for heavy, large and/or valuable products, one big challenge with drones is developing an operating system that makes commercial sense and doesn’t break regulations for unmanned aerial vehicles. Weight is another. “Trucks are still much cheaper for large, heavy loads or items that have to be transported for over 50 miles,” he added. Robots And, in a similar vein, robots may also cut out the human delivery- /middleman and/or enhance efficiency. Look at DHL, for example, which issued a robotics challenge , asking the public to “design the prototype of a self-driving delivery cart that can autonomously accompany our postmen and -women during last-mile delivery.” “The value here is that couriers won’t have to carry as many packages and won’t have to make as many time-consuming trips back to the truck to get more packages once they’ve delivered the few that they can carry on their own,” Kakuske said. He also pointed to self-driving delivery robot start-up Dispatch, which raised $2 million earlier this year and is reportedly building a fleet of autonomous delivery vehicles that can navigate sidewalks and bike paths and carry up to 100 pounds. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em And, of course, while there is a lot of innovation going on in delivery, some retailers may ultimately find selling through Amazon is the most cost- effective method, said Andy Wong, partner at digital services firm Kurt Salmon Digital. And/or they can just keep innovating. “Once near-immediate delivery becomes ubiquitous, it will change the way we think of e-commerce. Right now e-commerce is a process – browse, choose, add to cart, check out, track shipment, etc.,” Wong said. “In the future, with combinations of things like Amazon’s Echo and same day delivery, the e-commerce purchase process from recognizing and need to having it fulfilled will continue to shorten and compress until it’s seamless. But, at that point, will we still even call it e-commerce?”

2016-08-17 05:40 www.thedrum.com

66 China censorship: How a moderate magazine was targeted "China gets tough on media freedom" isn't much of a shock headline these days. But events at Yanhuang Chunqiu - a distinguished, if somewhat dry, history magazine - are evidence of a watershed moment, its former staff believe. "I've not seen this kind of thing since the Cultural Revolution," the recently dismissed - some might say purged - founder and director Du Daozheng tells me. In July, the magazine's offices were taken over by strangers, who changed the computer passwords, began to open the mail as if it was their own and took over the running of the magazine. "It was a co-ordinated effort to block us and to contain and control us," Mr Du says. At 93 years old, he does not look like your usual target of Chinese government oppression. Granted, his magazine - whose title loosely translates as China Through the Ages - has long been offering a mild critique of the official Communist version of history. But it is hardly a radical voice of opposition. Mr Du himself has been a card- carrying member of the Party for almost eight decades and was, for a long time, a senior editor at Xinhua, the state-run news agency. "All other newspapers only speak with the same voice," he says. "We offered something different, but we were still a force within the system, using our voice to advocate moderate reform. " There have been attempts to clip the magazine's wings in the past. In 2008 it broke a longstanding taboo by publishing a series of articles about Zhao Ziyang, the former party leader ousted in 1989 who spent the rest of his days under house arrest. And one of the magazine's senior editors, Hu Dehua, is himself the son of another reform-minded former leader, Hu Yaobang. But the magazine has managed to stay in business, partly because of the backing of influential sympathisers. In recent years it boasted a readership of some 200,000 a month. Another series of articles, published in 2013, ruffled feathers by questioning the details of a well-known story about Communist soldiers fighting against the Japanese in World War Two. The heroic tale has the five Chinese soldiers jumping off a cliff so they would not be captured alive, but the article expressed doubts about key aspects, including how many Japanese soldiers were supposed to have been killed in the preceding battle. "There have been many times when they want to say that we cannot have a different opinion," Mr Du tells me. "But this time it's serious. They really do want to shut us down. " So, he says, in the face of the appointment of new editorial staff by the authorities, the original staff had no choice but to issue a notice announcing that any future editions of the magazine would have nothing to do with them. But they are not giving up. This week they went to court to try to challenge what they see as an illegal attempt to stifle their voice, although few observers would give them much chance of success. The plight of Yanhuang Chunqiu is seen as symbolic of the tightening of control over freedom of expression under President Xi Jinping. Lawyers, activists and religious groups are all feeling the pressure as his government moves against what it sees as the dangers of pluralist, Western ideals. But that a history magazine should be in the firing line has shocked many observers. The past has always been a sensitive subject in China but Yanhuang Chunqiu was at least one place where China's often dark and difficult history could be openly discussed as a way of illuminating the future. Even that opportunity has now gone. "I had high expectations for Xi Jinping," Mr Du says. "But in general I think he is going backwards. The consequences of this clampdown is not only about our magazine but it will harm the party and the country. "

2016-08-17 05:20 By John www.bbc.co.uk

67 'I found my dad on Facebook' •Farhiya was separated from her father when she was a baby •She didn't see him for nearly 40 years •They were reunited thanks to a stranger on social media "Congratulations! We found your dad! " read an email in Farhiya's inbox. "I couldn't believe it when I first got the news. " she says. "It was a dream come true. But I always kept faith this moment would one day arrive. " When she was growing up, Farhiya used to ask her mother what her dad was like. "She would tell me to look in the mirror," says Farhiya. "You talk like him, you walk like him, you even argue like him," her mother would reply. But apart from a few black and white photos, that was all she had to go on. Thirty-nine-year-old Farhiya was born in Leningrad - now St Petersburg - in 1976 to a Russian mother and a Somali father. Siid Ahmed Sharif was one of many young Somali officers invited to study in the Soviet Union as the USSR sought to expand its influence in Africa. He and Farhiya's mother planned to marry, but a year after Farhiya was born, Somalia went to war with its neighbour, Ethiopia - and the Kremlin sided with Ethiopia. So very soon Somalia expelled Soviet advisers from the country and all Somali students in the USSR, including Farhiya's father, were told to go home. "My mum and I were visiting my grandma in Western Siberia when we first heard on radio about the war," she says. "I remember her telling me later that she immediately knew what this meant for our family, what this meant for my father. " Sharif had 24 hours to pack his bags. With his loved ones away, he couldn't even say goodbye but he left a note with his parents' address in Mogadishu. "I knew he did not walk out on us, he had not left us or abandoned us," says Farhiya. "He only left us because of the circumstances. " But those circumstances also made it impossible to stay in touch. The family was separated for nearly four decades. Despite this, Farhiya's childhood was a happy one. "I was surrounded by unconditional love from my mum. Her relatives gave me so much love and care, I felt very special," she says. "I was proud of my heritage, was proud of looking different… My classmates, my teachers at school and the university always told me I was special. " Farhiya spoke to World Update on the BBC World Service - listen to the interview here Farhiya always wondered where her father was and what he was like, though. "The desire to find my dad was always there but it was when I was about 12, I thought to myself I had to do something to find him," she says. By this time the political climate had changed - Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of glasnost (openness) was under way and Farhiya saw nothing to stop her writing to her father. But when she sent letters to the address he had left they always bounced back unopened. She didn't know if they even reached Somalia. She contacted organisations in the USSR that helped children find their African fathers and got in touch with the Red Cross, which provided a similar service. But her attempts were fruitless. "Other Russian children were able to find their parents in other African countries because it was easier. Those countries had diplomatic relationships, embassies and people working in Russia who were going back and forth to African countries. As for Somalia, access was extremely limited," she says. From time to time she stopped actively searching but she never fully let go of the idea of finding her father. "It was like trying and failing and then giving up for few years then going back to the search once again and failing again," she says. When Somalia descended into civil war in 1991, that was a huge setback. The war continued for nearly two decades, but as it drew to an end, social networks were beginning to emerge and this gave Farhiya fresh hope. On one Russian social media site, Vkontakte, she came across a woman helping reunite people with parents living abroad, but it turned out to be another dead end. "I wrote to her but she said that if my father was in Somalia she would not be able to help," Farhiya says. Then she started to browse pictures of Somalia on Instagram. A lot of the photos she liked were posted by a young Somali man called Deeq who seemed well connected, so she messaged him to see if he could help. Deeq had cultivated a range of Somali contacts during his years travelling in North America, Europe and the Horn of Africa. He also had good contacts in the Somali government from his work at the country's embassy in Dubai. On 16 March he posted Farhiya's plea on his Facebook page. Comments soon started flooding in, and one from Norway stood out. "That's our sister Farhiya," it read. It was written by one of Farhiya's half siblings, living in Oslo, and her father was staying with her at the time. A few weeks later, after several Skype calls, Farhiya, her mother and Farhiya's husband travelled to Norway to meet her father. "He was exactly like I expected him to be," she says. "We walked exactly in the same manner. We talked exactly in the same voice. It was unbelievable - the two of us were together after all this time! " She met three of her half-sisters, and a half-brother arrived from Sweden, where her father lives most of the time. A half-uncle also flew to Oslo for the family gathering. Farhiya discovered that her father had been looking for her too. "When we spoke on Skype for the very first time, he told me about his attempts to reach us," she says. But she and her mother had moved when her mother had married, and Sharif didn't have their new address. And like his daughter, he had run up against problems caused by the breakdown in relations between their two countries. These days Farhiya and her mother talk regularly with Sharif on Skype and another meeting is planned. Next time he may visit St Petersburg. There are many things about her father's life Farhiya has yet to find out, and many things she and her mother want to tell him about the last four decades. Fortunately Sharif still remembers the Russian he learned many years ago. Farhiya is delighted to have discovered an extended family in Scandinavia and Somalia, but sometimes it's hard to take in that her search is finally over. "It will probably still take me a long time to believe that in my phone, I now have the most important contact in my life - Dad. " Follow @BBCNewsMagazine on Twitter and on Facebook

2016-08-17 05:20 By Abdirahim www.bbc.co.uk

68 Letter from Africa: Custody battle after Boko Haram child kidnap In our series of letters by African journalists, Nigerian novelist and writer Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani looks a mother's desperate battle to recover her kidnapped toddler. For many victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria, the tragedy never seems to end. It simply takes on new dimensions. Take the case of 32-year-old Maria David Zaya, whose two-year-old daughter, Precious, was kidnapped by militants of the Islamist group in September 2014, while she was visiting her in-laws in Madagali in Adamawa state. Precious was taken captive along with six other children and two women who lived in the same neighbourhood. Two weeks later, one of the women escaped. She told Mrs Zaya that Precious had been quite favoured in captivity because of her light skin and pretty face, and given to one of the wives of an "amir", a Boko Haram commander, who did not have any children of her own. Distressed about the thought of not seeing her daughter ever again, Mrs Zaya returned to Port Harcourt, in the southern state of Rivers, where her husband, David, works as a security man. Shortly after, she gave birth to her second child, a boy named Emma. Seven months after she returned, Mrs Zaya received some unexpected good news: the Nigerian military had rescued a number of Boko Haram captives from the Sambisa forest, and taken them to the Malkohi camp for displaced people in Yola, the main city in Adamawa. "One of my neighbours in the village saw my daughter and some of the other six missing children there and called me to come quickly," said Mrs Zaya. But by the time she arrived, Precious had disappeared. After three months of shuttling between various government, military and NGO offices, with the assistance of a Red Cross official, Mrs Zaya finally located her daughter at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, where legitimate wives of Boko Haram members (not those forcefully married) were being held with their children for a debriefing process. "When I saw Precious, she was wearing a headscarf but I recognised her," Mrs Zaya said. "She continued following me and staring at me. " More on Boko Haram crisis The town that lost its girls 'Boko Haram took my children' Escape from Boko Haram Mrs Zaya soon learned that the girl she believed to be Precious had a new name, Yagana, and was in the custody of a Boko Haram wife called Asabe. She said Asabe became furious when Mrs Zaya presented herself as the girl's mother, insisting that Yagana was her younger sister. Following the ensuing fracas, the military officials asked Mrs Zaya to return with her husband and with any other proof she might have of the child's parentage. A month later, in September 2015, the couple came with photos of Precious and the girl's birth certificate, but they were denied access to the camp because of an unauthorised official was accompanying them. It was not until December that Mrs Zaya was assigned another authorised Red Cross official to accompany her back to Kaduna. However, by then, the residents of the defence academy refugee camp had been released. After months of frantic searching and desperate letters to relevant authorities, Mrs Zaya finally located Asabe in a remote village in Damboa in Borno state, where the woman had taken the disputed child. "This kind of situation is not common but it is also not a new thing," said Jethro Zarma of the State Investigative Bureau in Yola, one of the officers now handling the case. Based on police records, he said, there have been other incidents of more than one parent claiming a child rescued from Boko Haram captivity. Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani: "It is frightening to imagine the number of children rescued from Boko Haram who may have ended up in the custody of opportunistic strangers" When several attempts to get Asabe to turn up at the police station with the child failed, Mr Zarma said the department eventually sought the assistance of the military, which then sent soldiers into a volatile area of Damboa to escort the disputed child to a police station in Maiduguri, Borno's main city, last month. But Asabe did not come along. The child, now almost five, was instead accompanied by an elderly couple, who presented themselves as the girl's grandparents. A confrontation ensued between the couple and Mrs Zaya. "They became so violent and caused a lot of confusion at the police station," Mr Zarma said. In the end, the child was taken into the custody of the Borno state government, where she has remained for the past three weeks. "We will keep her here for her safety, pending confirmation of the child's identity," said Ladi Clarke, an official of the state's social welfare office. "The effort can only be made by Maria because she is the complainant," she added. Mrs Zaya is now working towards hiring a lawyer to convince a court to order a DNA test. Until then, while her husband awaits his family's return to their home in Port Harcourt, Mrs Zaya lives with one-year-old Emma in a tent within the premises of the St Theresa's Catholic Church in Yola, which has been converted into a camp for persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. "I will not go back to Port Harcourt until I finish everything," she said. "I will wait until I get my baby. " It is frightening to imagine the number of children rescued from Boko Haram who may have ended up in the custody of opportunistic strangers. More from Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani:

2016-08-17 05:20 www.bbc.co.uk

69 Son of drug lord 'El Chapo' Guzman kidnapped in Mexico A son of Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was among criminals abducted in a Pacific coast city on Monday, officials say. They say Jesus Alfredo Guzman, 29, was one of six members of the Sinaloa Cartel seized by members of a rival gang, Jalisco New Generation. The incident took place at a restaurant in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta . Guzman, who is now in jail, had led the Sinaloa Cartel for years. Jesus Alfredo is suspected to be a senior member. The 29-year-old is wanted on drugs charges by the US. The US also wants Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to be extradited to the US on charges of smuggling vast amounts of drugs into the country. He was recaptured in January, six months after escaping through a 1.6km (one-mile) tunnel from his maximum-security prison cell. The six suspected gang members were abducted at La Leche restaurant in the early hours of Monday in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco state. State Attorney General Eduardo Almaguer told reporters that forensic evidence collected at the scene had confirmed Jesus Alfredo Guzman's abduction. He added that four of the six kidnapped people had already been identified, without providing further details. There are reports that another of Guzman's son, Ivan, may have also been among the victims. Local officials say the victims had travelled from neighbouring states for a celebration in the upscale restaurant. The BBC's Juan Paullier in Mexico says the kidnap may trigger a war between the two major Mexican drug cartels. Jalisco New Generation and the Sinaloa Cartel have been fighting for the control of major drug routes along Mexico's Pacific coast. Mexican gangs smuggle tonnes of illegal drugs - mainly cocaine - to the US every year.

2016-08-17 05:20 www.bbc.co.uk

70 The surreal investigations into Thailand's unresolved bombings If the investigation of last week's multiple bomb attacks in southern Thailand follows the pattern of that into the bombing of the Erawan Shine in Bangkok exactly a year ago, we are in for a surreal ride. What we may not see is any convincing explanation for what happened. Like the spate of small bombs last week, the attack in Bangkok on 17 August last year was something new. Never before had such a large, deadly device been detonated at a symbolically- powerful location popular with foreign tourists. Twenty people died, and more than 120 were injured. The immediate response of the military authorities was to deny any possibility that this was a terrorist attack. The next response was to deny any possibility that it might be retribution for a controversial decision a month before to deport 109 Muslim Uighur asylum-seekers back to China, where they faced harsh treatment as suspected insurgents. This despite the fact that the shrine was known to be popular with Chinese tourists. Instead military spokesmen dropped heavy hints that their domestic political opponents - supporters of ousted Prime Ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra - were to blame. Even when two suspects were caught, both of them ethnic Uighurs, the Thai authorities initially refused to confirm their Chinese nationality, and insisted they were merely part of a people-smuggling gang frustrated over police operations constricting their business. This official view has remained unchanged to this day, notwithstanding the discovery of large quantities of bomb-making materials in the same apartment where Bilal Mohammed, the first suspect, was apprehended. But the police continued to try to link the attack with the opposition red-shirt movement. They stated last September that one of the key suspects was a known red-shirt activist, appropriately named Mr Odd, with links to a woman who was among 15 people believed to have fled to Turkey in the wake of the bombing. His photograph was circulated, but then the police appeared to lose all interest in him. Neither did they make any visible efforts to get the 15 other suspects extradited from Turkey, despite the fact that one of them, a Uighur man named Abudustar Abdulrahman, who had flown out of Bangkok the night before the bomb, was believed to have played a central role in organising the attack. Meanwhile the police put on a bizarre spectacle, awarding themselves a large pile of cash, equivalent to around $80,000, which had been raised as a reward for information leading to convictions. The two detained suspects have since been indicted and held in a military base, with very few people allowed access to them. Bilal Mohammed has been charged with placing the bomb under a seat in the shrine - the man caught on security camera videos that night - even though he looks quite different, and police had at first insisted he was not the man in the video. He has denied the charge and has written a letter insisting he was only trying to reach Turkey, using people-smugglers in Thailand. Both men are being tried in a military court. The only translator found in Bangkok who can speak their language has since been arrested for drug offences, so they now have no way to follow court proceedings. Both men have pleaded not guilty, and have hinted that they have been abused in custody. Bilal Mohammed broke down in tears on his way to court in May and shouted that he was "not an animal". Their lawyer has advised that their best option is to plead guilty and hope for leniency. Immediately after last week's bombings, the military authorities again suggested the most likely culprits were "those who have lost power", the same phrase used last year to point at the red-shirt opposition. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha pointedly asked why the bombings had taken place right after the military had succeeded in getting its constitution - opposed by the red-shirts - approved in a national referendum. Any thought that the attacks could be considered terrorism was once again dismissed. They were, said a police commander, just "domestic sabotage". Any possible link to the long-running separatist insurgency in Thailand's southern-most provinces was likewise dismissed, although those familiar with that conflict believe this is the most likely scenario. More recent comments by the military authorities are starting to acknowledge that possibility, and in his latest remarks the prime minister has said the government is not accusing any group. Why does the military obfuscate the investigation of such critical events with so many baffling statements? One obvious factor is the fear that tourism will be adversely affected if there is any suggestion of terrorism. Estimates vary, but tourism accounts for between 9% and 20% of the economy (depending on whether direct or indirect contributions are counted), and it is just about the only part of the economy which is growing. Big terrorist incidents, like the Bali bomb in 2002, and more recent attacks in Turkey, do drive foreigners away. But the Bangkok bomb last year had only a brief impact, and provided there are no further attacks, the effect this time will probably also be limited. Another factor is the embarrassment of such attacks to a military government that seized power in the name of restoring peace and order. The latest attacks took place on the 84th birthday of Queen Sirikit, an auspicious anniversary for Thais and one the ultra-royalist military had wanted celebrated openly across the country. In Hua Hin, the favourite residence of the royal family outside Bangkok, and the site of one of the attacks - the celebration had to be held inside a military barracks. And acknowledging that the southern militants may be involved would underscore the military's failure even to contain, let alone resolve, a conflict which has cost more than 6,000 lives. The experience of previous violent events in Thailand is not encouraging. Very few have ever been fully investigated. The massacre of students in Bangkok in 1976; of pro-democracy protesters in 1992; the killing of more than 90 people during an occupation of Bangkok by the red-shirt movement in 2010, and the subsequent military operation against it; and the deaths of 30 people in the rival yellow-shirt occupation of 2013-2014 before the coup - details of all these events remain disputed, their causes unexplained, and most of the perpetrators unpunished. No-one should be surprised if the bombings, last year and this year, produce a similar outcome.

2016-08-17 05:20 By Jonathan www.bbc.co.uk

71 Donald Trump defends Milwaukee police shooting US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says initial evidence suggests the shooting of a black man by police in Wisconsin was justified. The killing of Sylville Smith, which took place in a predominantly African- American part of Milwaukee on Saturday, led to several days of protests. "We have to obey the laws or we don't have a country," Mr Trump told Fox News after visiting police in the city. A string of fatal police shootings have sparked demonstrations across the US. Protesters say the police are too ready to use lethal force against African Americans. In the latest incident on Saturday, 23-year-old Mr Smith was stopped by police and then fled. Police said he was shot because he was carrying an illegal handgun and had refused to drop it. "The gun was pointed at his [a police officer's] head supposedly ready to be fired," said Mr Trump, the Republican presidential candidate. "Who can have a problem with that? That's what the narrative is. Maybe it's not true. If it is true, people shouldn't be rioting. " Mr Trump, a businessman who stunned the political world by winning the Republican primary contests, met Sheriff David Clarke in a private meeting on Tuesday. Mr Clarke has put the state's National Guard on standby but it has not been used. New York hotel developer Mr Trump has been vocal in his support for the police throughout his election campaign. He trails Democrat Hillary Clinton in the polls, ahead of November's presidential election, after a series of controversial remarks. The Republican is due to speak later at a rally in the city.

2016-08-17 05:20 www.bbc.co.uk

72 Rio Olympics 2016: US and NZ runners help each other An American runner has been praised as a true Olympian after stopping mid-race to help a fallen rival on to her feet. Abbey D'Agostino helped New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin who was lying dazed on the track after the two entangled and fell in the 5,000m heats in Rio. "Get up. We have to finish this," D'Agostino told her. It was then Hamblin's turn to help D'Agostino, hanging back to encourage the injured American, who hobbled over the line in last place. They embraced before D'Agostino left in a wheelchair with a hurt ankle. Neither initially qualified for the final but they earned much praise for their spirit. The incident began about 3km (1.9 miles) into the 5km race, when D'Agostino and Hamblin collided and they both went down. Hamblin fell heavily and D'Agostino was first to get to her feet, but Hamblin was just lying there, appearing to be in tears. Instead of continuing the race in an attempt to catch up, the American put her hands under the New Zealander's shoulders to help her up, telling her not to give up. As they continued the race, it became clear that D'Agostino's injury was the more serious and her ankle had been badly hurt. So it was Hamblin's turn to be the helper, hanging back to encourage her rival. "She helped me first. I tried to help her. She was pretty bad," said Hamblin after the race. She eventually had to leave D'Agostino behind and thought the American would have to give up. She waited at the finish line where they shared a hug. This time, it was D'Agostino who was in tears and she was taken out of the stadium in a wheelchair. "That girl is the Olympic spirit right there," said Hamblin. The two runners were reinstated as finalists by the organisers, if they are fit enough to race in Friday night's final.

2016-08-17 05:21 www.bbc.co.uk

73 73 American may face charges for spearing Canadian bear Officials in Canada's Alberta province have said they plan to ban spear hunting after an American posted a video of himself impaling a black bear. Social media users criticised US hunter Josh Bowmar, 26, for uploading a 13-minute video showing the hunt. Though spear hunting is legal in Alberta, officials have said they are looking into whether Mr Bowman could face charges for the kill. A ban on spear hunting is expected to be in place this autumn, they said. Alberta Environment Ministry spokesman Kyle Ferguson said the agency had asked Fish and Wildlife officers to launch an investigation into whether Mr Bowman should be charged under current laws. The video, which was posted on YouTube in June and taken down on Monday, shows Mr Bowmar setting a trap for the bear in northern Alberta and launching a spear, with a camera attached, at the animal. "I drilled him perfect," Bowmar said to the camera, according to Reuters. "That was the longest throw I ever thought I could ever make. " Spear hunting is illegal in Ontario, Canada's most populous province, but not in Alberta. Mr Bowmar said he has received hundreds of death threats and has been forced to cut back on his social media use because of the backlash. The Ohio native was a competitive javelin thrower in college and currently runs a fitness company. "It's extremely frustrating to me," he told the AP. "I didn't do anything illegal. The bear died very humanely. The truth is I honestly care more about animals and hunting than anybody could. " Mr Bowmar said the bear ran 55 metres (180 feet) before it died and argued that a spear was a more humane weapon than a bow, Reuters reported. Mr Bowmar is not the first American to spark outrage in the sport of hunting. American dentist Walter Palmer came under fire last year for killing the black-maned lion, Cecil, with a bow and arrow outside the Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe. Mr Palmer was not charged because officials said he had obtained legal authority to kill the animal.

2016-08-17 05:20 www.bbc.co.uk

74 Burkini beach row puts French values to test This is a controversy France could have done without. Burkini or bikini, French commentators have asked, ironically, about this summer's choice of beachwear. It is no coincidence that the ban on Islamic burkinis - full- body swimsuits - should arise from French Riviera beaches, a few kilometres from Nice, a city struck by a militant Islamist attack that killed 85 people on Bastille Day, just a month ago. The town of Cannes was the first to pass the summer ban, which was confirmed by the courts on 13 August. And Cannes was soon followed by the towns of Villeneuve-Loubet, near Nice, and Sisco in Corsica. Even the mayor of the northern seaside resort of Le Touquet is said to be about to pass a similar ban: no burkini will be tolerated on public beaches. So far, nobody has been fined (€38 in Cannes - £33; $43) for wearing a burkini on the beach. But Cannes' decision has triggered a heated debate. Cannes mayor David Lisnard has tried to explain his decision in these terms: "The burkini is like a uniform, a symbol of Islamist extremism. This is why I am banning it for the summer. " His view surprised the Cannes Muslim community, as David Lisnard is known locally for having allowed a large plot of land in his city to be used to build the Iqraa mosque, financed by a Saudi donor. "I am a practising Muslim, and I believe there should be a choice," said Sabrina Akram, who grew up in Pakistan, and now lives in the US state of Massachusetts. "I think it's outrageous that you would effectively be asked to uncover some flesh or leave," said Maryam Ouiles from Gloucester. Read more here: Muslim women on the burkini bans Why French beaches are banning burkinis Nice ban upheld by court Corsica mayor bans burkinis A French anti-Islamophobia association, CCIF, decided to challenge the Cannes mayor's decision in court but lost the case. According to the administrative court which authorised the ban, it falls within the remit of the 2004 law restricting religious signs in public spaces. The court explained its decision: "In the context of a state of emergency and after recent Islamist attacks in France, the conspicuous display of religious signs, in this instance in the shape beachwear, is susceptible to create or increase tensions and risk affecting public order. " In other words, the court asserts that a burkini may not be seen simply as an innocent religious symbol, but as a militant and proselytising form of radical Islam. Like many of his colleagues and a majority of the French people, Jean- Christophe Ploquin, columnist at Catholic daily La Croix, disagrees. "In France, everybody is free to dress the way they like as long as they abide by the law. Everybody should therefore be free to wear a burkini," he argues. "This, however, doesn't mean we should be naive. The burkini offers a separatist vision of society and applies pressure on other women in the Muslim community. " In fact, the burkini challenges two fundamental French values and traditions: women's emancipation and a desire to live together as one nation. The country that gave the bikini to the world, following on a long tradition of influential women - from philosopher Madame du Chatelet, friend of Voltaire, to Coco Chanel, by way of Simone de Beauvoir, author of the ground-breaking female study The Second Sex - is shocked to see that some French women accept what it sees as the diktat of religion and of men on them. Why the bikini became a fashion classic The burkini also deeply challenges the notion of national unity, which is at the heart of the French narrative. The burkini is seen as a symbol of separatism and, for some, to allow it is to undermine the very idea of France. The burkini controversy will probably slowly disappear as August draws to a close. It is nonetheless revealing of France's deeply troubled state of mind, one which is going to linger on for some years to come. Agnes Poirier is UK editor for French weekly Marianne

2016-08-17 05:20 By Agnes www.bbc.co.uk

75 NGO calls on supporters of Israel to stand strong against Sussiya Those who support Israel at home and abroad should let their voices be heard as the government battles against international pressure to legalize the West Bank village of Sussiya, the NGO Regavim said on Tuesday. “I know that it is not easy. I know that the world community, the European Union, the State Department, anti-Israel NGOs are pressuring our government to let the illegal squatters remain in their current location,” said Josh Hasten, who is Regavim’s international director. Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. “Let the prime minister know that with all the pressure, the State of Israel, the people of Israel, are behind him,” Hasten said. His watch-dog group monitors illegal Palestinian construction and has been one of the petitioners to the High Court of Justice against the village. At issue is a request by some 45 Palestinian families in the South Hebron Hills to rezone their agricultural lands to allow for temporary and permanent housing. The lands in question are located a short distance away from an Israeli settlement of the same name (Sussiya) and next to an archeological site, which houses the remains of a synagogue dating back to the 4th and 5th centuries. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman is expected to submit his opinion on the matter to the High Court of Justice on Wednesday. Left-wing non-governmental groups and activists from Israel and abroad have rallied around the village. The United States and the European Union have pressured Israel to submit an option to the High Court that would legalize the village and authorize its homes by approving a zoning plan. The government, however, has been under pressure from right-wing politicians, activists and groups like Regavim to tell the High Court that the village should be demolished. They have argued that the collection of tents and modular structures are not a village but an illegal encampment that is part of a strategic drive by the Palestinian Authority to strengthen its hold on Area C. “This is a litmus test to see if the government of Israel is willing to uphold the laws of the land,” Hasten said in a video he produced in advance of Liberman’s expected opinion. “We are calling on people to get involved and to strengthen the prime minister and the defense minister to uphold the laws of the land and to remove this illegal encampment. “This will send a clear message to everyone around the world that the laws of this democratic country of Israel can not be broken,” Hasten said. Sussiya, however, is not the only case in which the demotion of Palestinian homes is pending. According to the UN, as of last week Israel had demolished 614 unauthorized Palestinian structures in the West Bank, many of them were modular constructions. On Tuesday, however, it destroyed seven concrete structures in the Palestinian village of Sair (north east of Hebron), displacing 41 people. The Civil Administration said in response: “The necessary warrants regarding these buildings were sent prior to the carried out enforcements.” Think others should know about this? Please share | |

2016-08-17 04:57 TOVAH LAZAROFF www.jpost.com

76 76 Leaving Albania behind: My search for freedom Following the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, Albania's tightly controlled economy fell apart. Faced with poverty and few prospects, tens of thousands of Albanians left the country by any means they could find. In August 1991, thousands seized a ship and sailed across to the Italian port of Bari. Robert Budina was one of those migrants on board. He hoped to secure a job in Italy and send money back to his family in Albania. He also hoped to experience a different way of life. He spoke to Witness about his journey in search of freedom. Witness : The stories of our times told by the people who were there.

2016-08-17 03:44 www.bbc.co.uk

77 Sunette qualifies for javelin final, but SA's other athletes crash out Viljoen, competing at her fourth Games, launched her missile beyond the required 63m mark to automatically qualify as one of the dozen speared warriors who will battle it out for ultimate glory. But South Africa’s other hopes on the night crashed out, failing to advance to their finals — it’s Games over for hurdlers LJ van Zyl, Wenda Nel and Antonio Alkana, and long-jumper Lynique Prinsloo. In the morning, world championship 200m bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana and his two school-going companions, Gift Leotlela and Clarence Munyai, all crashed out in the heats. Out of eight SA athletics competitors on the day, only Viljoen made it through. Her 63.54m in the evening qualifying round was third in her group, behind Sara Kolak of Croatia (64.30) and Tatsiana Khaladovich of Belarus (63.78m) and sixth overall. Young Pole Maria Andrejczyk unleashed the biggest throw of the night, a massive 67.11m ahead of defending champion and world record-holder Barbora Spotakova (64.65) and German Linda Stahl (63.95). Viljoen was happy to fly under the radar. “I felt so relaxed … the javelin came out well and when I saw 63.54 I was very happy. “It’s comforting to feel you’re not the big, big favoirite, and to go into the final as a little bit of an underdog is nice,” said Viljoen, 32. “The javelin this year is very open, so there’s not one lady you can pinpoint and say this is a medal-winner this is for sure. “I’d rather [be the underdog] than have the huge expectation on yourself and the country.” In London four years ago Viljoen, then the world No1, had the third-longest throw in qualifying, but was unable to match that distance in the final, where she ended in a heart-breaking fourth. The biggest casualty was Commonwealth Games champion Kim Mickle of Australia. Van Zyl, Nel and Alkana all got off to good starts but struggled over the final hurdles to be overhauled and pushed out of contention. Van Zyl ended fifth in his 400m hurdles semifinal in 49.00 and Nel was sixth in her 400m hurdles in 55.83. “I didn’t have the legs to finish the race,” said Van Zyl, 31, who is eager to continue competing until the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Nel, 28, lost her balance on hurdle nine and nearly stepped out her lane. “I’ve always said that at this level it’s about making the fewest mistakes and tonight I made the most,” she said, adding she might now decide to compete until Tokyo 2020. Alkana, 26, was seventh in his 110m hurdles semifinal in 13.55. Prinsloo managed a best of 6.10m which ranked her 33rd overall. And in the only medal event involving a South African on the day, open- water swimmer Chad Ho finished an impressive 10th, within three seconds of the podium. “I wanted a top 10 even a medal but it just wasn’t enough on the day and I can’t ask for anything more,” said Ho, a matric pupil when he competed at his last Games at Beijing 2008, when he finished ninth. “Conditions were ideal, not too flat not too rough and I felt good all the way. I sat with the pack, got my feed when I needed to and happy to have another Olympics done and dusted.”

2016-08-17 03:41 DAVID ISAACSON www.timeslive.co.za

78 Coal ship crew stranded without food or fuel off Australia's east coast The Chinese coal ship crew who were left without enough food, wages, or fuel for their return voyage to China remain in limbo off Australia’s east coast. The Five Stars Fujian has been detained off Gladstone, on the central Queensland coast, by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority since Friday, when inspectors confirmed complaints by the ship captain about a lack of food and wages not paid since May. The ship is carrying about $40m worth of coal. The parlous situation of the crew, who according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) are paid below the international minimum at about US$2 an hour, was revealed after the ship’s release from a federal court-ordered arrest over a commercial debt in late July. Mark Bailey, the Queensland ports minister, condemned the “shameful and disrespectful behavior” of those responsible for the ship. It is owned by Five Stars Fujian Shipping and operated by MCL Management, both based in Hong Kong. “No seafarer should be abandoned by the employer on the other side of the globe, let alone be left without basic provisions,” Bailey said. A spokesman for Amsa, which detained the ship over crew welfare provisions contained in the international Maritime Labor Convention, said it had been notified of money transferred to a supplier to deliver supplies to the ship. The supplier is yet to confirm the payment, which ITF coordinator Matt Purcell said followed repeated promises from the ships’ owners that had not been forthcoming. Amsa and the Gladstone Port Authority organised an emergency helicopter drop of 200kg of food donated by the Gladstone Mission to Seafarers on Monday. The ship, which contains an estimated $40m worth of coal originally sold by Rio Tinto to a China-based commodity trader, will not be released by Amsa until sufficient fuel for the return journey is organised and unpaid wage commitments are met. Purcell said despite the latest assurances, there were concerns about the immediate prospects for the crew and the financial status of the owners, who he said had repeatedly reneged on promises to pay. “Amsa’s saying [the crew] weren’t abandoned but really it seems to me they’re in a deep mire,” he said. “I don’t think [the owners] have got any money to be honest.” Purcell said the crew were “very uptight, very concerned, unsure of their future”. “It’s not a good thing to be stuck at anchorage 12km off the coast and it doesn’t really do any good for their morale,” he said. Purcell said crew of the Five Stars Fujian were paid US$700 to US$800 a month, below the international minimum of US$1,100. ITF brokered- agreements start at nearly US$2,000. “We’ve been seeing a lot of this for a long time,” he said. “The Chinese [crews] for years have been mistreated and downtrodden but in the last couple of years they’ve started to speak out and they want to be paid the right money, they want to be treated fairly.”

2016-08-17 03:01 Joshua Robertson www.theguardian.com

79 Guinea protest against President Conde leaves one dead – reports A man has reportedly been shot dead by police during a demonstration in Guinea that saw at least half a million people protest against alleged government corruption. Several others were injured in the Conakry rally to denounce what they said was economic mismanagement by the government of president Alpha Conde. Opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo said 700,000 people had joined a 15km procession from the suburbs to the 28 Septembre stadium in the west African nation’s capital. Security forces said the number was closer to 500,000. The man killed, named as Thierno Hamidou Diallo, 21, was shot in the chest by a police officer “as he was sitting on the balcony of his apartment” in the suburb of Bambeto, said his brother Mamadou Dian Diallo. An AFP reporter saw the body at a hospital. A doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a number of injured had been treated and one was in a coma. State TV said one person died and a number of people were injured in clashes between young demonstrators and police. Supporters of several opposition parties had gathered for the event shouting “Alpha resign, Alpha that’s enough, students unemployed, we want jobs” and brandishing placards reading “Death to dictatorship”. Cellou Dalein Diallo, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, hailed the huge turnout and said it proved the “rejection of dictatorship and poor governance of Mr Alpha Conde”. Diallo blamed Conde’s government specifically for mishandling the massive Simandou iron ore project in the south of the country managed by British- Australian firm Rio Tinto, which he said meant Guineans could miss out on “decent jobs”. The government said in July the challenges of getting the project off the ground during a global iron ore glut were considerable but it would “do everything” to ensure it went ahead. Guinea’s constitutional court in November 2015 formally confirmed Conde’s re-election , dismissing opposition claims of vote-rigging and fraud. It was only the second democratic presidential poll since Guinea gained independence from France in 1958. In addition to focusing on the economy, rights campaigners have urged Conde to use his second term to intensify the fight against impunity, strengthen the judiciary and promote equal respect for the rights of all Guineans. Despite the country being rich in minerals, most of the population in Guinea live in poverty and survive on less than a euro (86p) per day, according to the UN.

2016-08-17 02:58 Agence France www.theguardian.com

80 The multicoloured wonders of Atauro Island – in pictures A Conservation International team has counted an average of 252 species of reef fish at each site in the waters around Atauro Island – more any other place on the planet. There is a push to protect the island, which is 24km north of Timor-Leste’s capital, Dili, with a view to developing an ecotourism industry.

2016-08-17 02:45 Michael Slezak www.theguardian.com

81 Atauro Island: scientists discover the most biodiverse waters in the world A small island, a short boat trip from Timor-Leste’s capital, Dili, appears to have the most biodiverse waters anywhere in the world. There is a push for the site to be protected with a view to developing an ecotourism industry for the country’s struggling economy. Atauro Island sits just 24km north of Dili, is 23km long and is home to about 8,000 people. According to a new biological survey, it sits in waters that have more species of reef fish per site than any other place on the planet. Examining 10 sites around the island, a Conservation International team, with 50 years of combined experience surveying thousands of reefs around the world, found an average of 253 reef fish species at each site. That surpassed the previous record for a reef in West Papua, which had an average of 216 species at each site. Altogether, the researchers have counted a total of 642 species and saw a maximum of 314 at a single site. Among those were several species that were suspected to be entirely new as well as some that were very rare elsewhere. The site is inside an area known as the Coral Triangle , which has the highest biodiversity of any marine environment in the world. But, despite that, the researchers were surprised by the record-breaking biodiversity at Atauro Island. “My senior colleague Gerry Allen and I have done well over 10,000 dives between the two of us in the Coral Triangle region, so we are certainly used to high-diversity sites,” says Mark Erdmann from Conservation International. “But Atauro proved exceptionally rich.” Erdmann says that three of the 10 sites had more than 300 species of fish – a figure touted as showing extraordinary biodiversity. “We’ve used this survey technique for over a thousand sites in the Indian and Pacific oceans and the only sites we’ve ever surpassed 300 species are in the region between North Sulawesi and West Papua in northern Indonesia – an area we refer to as the bull’s-eye or epicentre of reef fish biodiversity.” Michel Kulbicki, an expert in coral reef biodiversity at the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement says the researchers are world experts in doing these surveys. “It is very likely that reefs in Timor could hold very high diversities of reef fish and it is probable that they rank amongst the richest ones,” he says. “Discovering new species in these waters is not surprising. We estimate that at least 10% of reef fish species are still undescribed, and a large number of these undescribed species are probably found in the Coral Triangle,” Kulbicki says. But Erdmann says, despite the exceptional biodiversity, some of the reefs around Atauro are not in the best health. “Some sites have stunning hard coral gardens and breathtaking vistas full of schools of reef fish, while other sites sadly show the scars of legacy blast fishing, as well as past crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. “Moreover, large predatory fishes including groupers and sharks and the iconic Napoleon wrasse were all exceptionally rare – a clear sign of overfishing.” Erdmann says that active protection of the reefs there “could pay significant dividends almost immediately”. “Overall the reef resources on Atauro are still in pretty good shape – a well- organised conservation and fisheries management effort could quickly return these reefs to amazing condition.” Accordingly, the researchers think the area should be made into a marine park. “Without question, our strong recommendation is that the whole of Atauro be designated a marine protected area, with active local management and enforcement,” Erdmann says. He says that since the local communities rely on the reef for food, the area must be zoned for “multi-use” and allow fishing. “However, we would recommend a ban on outside commercial fishing and moreover strongly urge the designation of a few key ‘no-take areas’ where no fishing or extraction of any kind is allowed, in order to allow reef fish stocks to recover and a strong breeding population to re-establish.” Erdmann says if that is enforced it will improve the catch for local communities, since the no-take zones will “re-seed” the rest of the area. “Diving on Atauro can be simply breathtaking,” he says. “Above water, the island strikes an impressive profile against the sky – heavily forested steep slopes teeming with birdlife, some of it endemic, and laid-back, friendly villages dotting the shoreline. Below water, much of the island has beautiful shallow reefs that plunge abruptly into the abyss and the clear waters are filled with colourful reef fish.” Erdmann says Atauro Island would impress anyone that visits it and could contribute to a lucrative ecotourism market for Timor-Leste . Trudiann Dale, Timor-Leste director at Conservation International, agrees. “Developing this type of ecotourism income is key to the future of the island’s people and relies directly on the preservation of the reef diversity.” She says the surveys aim to provide information to the developing nation so it can make informed decisions about how to secure environmental resources for its people. “Timor-Leste, like many new or developing countries, is data poor,” Dale says. “This makes it very difficult for a new country to understand what is needed to protect the environment so that all the ecosystem services, such as clean water and air, are in constant flow for the people.” “With the support of the people of Atauro Island and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Conservation International will make a submission for the entire island and its waters to become a protected area.”

2016-08-17 02:45 Michael Slezak www.theguardian.com

82 Scientists make final call on 'chemtrails' Contact WND WASHINGTON – You’ve seen the contrails behind those high-flying jets – sometimes making crisscrossing patterns in the sky – above your home, your town, your city. And you’ve heard the rumors. The government is spraying toxic chemicals, gene-altering concoctions, testing weapons of war. But the first peer-reviewed study published on these mysterious “chemtrails,” as they are often called, found they are not the result of governments covertly conducting experiments on the public. They’re just plain old water vapor. Rather than “chemtrails,” say the researchers, they are actually “contrails, which is short for condensation that produces water vapor that freezes around aerosols in the aircraft exhaust. “We wanted to establish a scientific record on the topic of secret atmospheric spraying programs for the benefit of those in the public who haven’t made up their minds,” said lead researcher Steven Davis from the University of California, Irvine. “The experts we surveyed resoundingly rejected contrail photographs and test results as evidence of a large-scale atmospheric conspiracy.” To find out what was going on, the team interviewed 77 scientists who should know what they’re talking about – they were either atmospheric chemists who specialize in condensation trails, or geochemists working on atmospheric deposition of dust and pollution. Out of the group, 76 of the 77 experts said they hadn’t come across evidence of secret, large-scale spraying programs. The evidence that the 77th had come across was “high levels of atmospheric barium in a remote area with standard low soil barium.” The researchers were shown four images commonly circulated as “chemtrails,” and 100 percent of them said they were just ordinary contrails – and they provided peer-reviewed citations to back up their claims. The researchers also suggested that contrails are more common these days simply because air travel is becoming more regular. “Despite the persistence of erroneous theories about atmospheric chemical spraying programs, until now there were no peer-reviewed academic studies showing that what some people think are ‘chemtrails’ are just ordinary contrails, which are becoming more abundant as air travel expands,” said one of the researchers, Ken Caldeira from the Carnegie Institution for Science. In other words, nothing to see up here. Move along. Of course, there’s a climate change tie-in. There’s always a climate-change link. “Also, it is possible that climate change is causing contrails to persist for longer periods than they used to,” said Caldeira. The team admits that their research probably won’t sway the opinion of anyone who already believes in “chemtrails,” but they hope that by providing a peer-reviewed study on the subject, people new to the topic will find something objective when doing their research. “I felt it was important to definitively show what real experts in contrails and aerosols think,” said Caldeira. “We might not convince die-hard believers that their beloved secret spraying program is just a paranoid fantasy, but hopefully their friends will accept the facts.” The research has been published in Environmental Research Letters.

2016-08-17 02:36 www.wnd.com

83 83 U. S. alarm: 'Unprecedented demonic outpouring' Contact WND They hailed from all Christian denominations and backgrounds, coming by the hundreds to defend their faith. More than a thousand Christians rallied in Oklahoma City to protest a long-scheduled blasphemous ceremony designed to mock Mary, the mother of Jesus. Though the “black mass” ritual took place as planned, the protests seemed to have an effect, as few attended the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall to witness a ritual entitled “The Consumption of Mary” performed by the Dakhma of Angra Mainyu, a group of “devil-worshipers.” The Catholic group the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property was one of the most prominent groups at the protest, appearing with their signature banners and sashes. Dakhma of Angra Mainyu leader Adam Daniels appeared to reference the group and other Christian protesters as the explanation of the ritual’s low attendance. “When you have the whole Roman legion out there, how likely are they [attendees] to come and buy tickets?” he asked. Daniels’ ritual incorporates a mix of occult practices designed to corrupt and desanctify a statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The statue is placed within a Solomonic triangle, a tool of occultism. A pig’s heart is placed within the statue and is consumed after the likeness of Mary is smashed. Burned pages from the Quran and menstrual blood were also reportedly part of the ritual. Archbishop Paul Coakley called for prayer “in response to the blasphemous event” and a Christian ceremony held outside the civic center was attended by hundreds of people. More than a thousand Christians from different denominations also attended a “Unity Prayer Walk” to counter the event. However, the anti-Christian ritual did take place inside the civic center, as local officials said they could not prevent it for fear of a costly lawsuit. Karl Payne, pastor of leadership development at Antioch Bible Church and the former chaplain of the Seattle Seahawks, is the author of “Spiritual Warfare: Christians, Demonization and Deliverance.” He suggested there exists a double standard in both the media and the legal system in which attacks on conservatives and Christians are permitted or even justified. “At this time in history our legislators and courts seem to be very concerned about any type of speech or actions giving offense to others, and seemingly promoting tolerance as a virtue that has replaced truth and common sense, but they seem to go deaf, dumb and mute over these concerns if those being offended or shown intolerant disrespect represent those holding conservative religious or political views,” he said. “If the object of this obvious display of contempt was directed at liberal political ideologues, leftist advocates, homosexuals or transgenders, the same legislators and courts who have green-lighted this activity would probably shut it down before it ever got a head of steam. “This individual, who apparently believes he is doing something courageous, is certainly selective regarding who he takes his stand against. He picks on people or groups who are told to love their enemies and pray for those who spite them. Does this action represent courage or convenience?” SPECIAL OFFER – $4.95! If God is real, so are the devil and his minions. Each one of us is in a spiritual war – and the consequences for defeat are unimaginable. Learn how to fight and win in “Spiritual Warfare” by Dr. Karl Payne, available now in the WND Superstore. Carl Gallups, a pastor, talk-show host and the author of “Final Warning,” believes Christian persecution is on the increase. See all of Carl Gallups’ books on Christianity in the WND Superstore! He also argues the “demonic” realm is a spiritual reality and demonic activity will increase in what he believes are the end times. “The prophetic days in which we are living are going to increasingly demand a high level of spiritual discernment from God’s people,” he told WND. “There are times when God’s people will need to act, or react, with boldness and direct and tangible action – as the case demands. However, there will be other instances when an assault by the demonic forces of evil will need to be met with prayer and supplication, giving as little public attention to the affront as possible. “Regardless, the Word of God is clear that the last days would be marked by an unprecedented demonic outpouring. I believe we are at least in the edges of that outpouring even now – from international calls for demonic deliverance ministries to open displays of demonic and satanic rituals.” The “Consumption of Mary” is not the first act of deliberate blasphemy against Christians in Oklahoma City. Daniels and his group particularly have targeted believers. On Christmas Eve in 2015, he poured fake blood on a statue of Mary, a desecration dutifully approved by city officials. Another “black mass” was held by the same group in 2014. Oklahoma City was also targeted by The Satanic Temple, a separate group, which wanted to place a statue of Baphomet on the capitol grounds. The group’s efforts were not successful – but they were able to display their statue in Detroit. Payne is pessimistic about the future of the United States as demonic and occult practices become more common, especially as they are conducted with the sanction of governments. “I personally believe God is done with our once-great country,” he told WND. “This is just one more activity, apparently under government sanction, that makes me wonder how much longer God is going to protect it from the chaos and destruction of secularism and anarchism running unfettered. “The foundations of this country made it a wonder to the rest of the world, but now they are being systematically destroyed. Whether this country is conquered by apathy, anarchism, atheism or Shariah, the same people who see no problem with grown men in little girls’ bathrooms, babies being murdered in the womb, rioters burning and killing without reprisal, and terrorism being promoted as justice, are going to be in shock when the mob violence turns on them after they have served their useful purposes.” Payne suggested the spiritual collapse of the country will eventually lead to the collapse of political institutions. He said many of the issues being discussed by the media are relatively unimportant and tangential compared to this shocking cultural change, and compared contemporary Americans to the rich passengers on the Titanic. “People are busy shuffling chairs and listening to the band while this ship is sinking, to the delight of some and tears of others,” he said. “Assuming our children and grandchildren live to old age, which is not a sure bet, I am guessing some of them are going to wake up at some point, and ask, ‘What in the world were you thinking when you allowed chaos to replace order while you slept?'” Gallups also charged modern Americans are ignoring the reality of spiritual warfare and the presence of the demonic – even when it is right in front of them. “Because of modern technology, the whole world sees these demonic displays, one after the other,” the pastor said. “We are under the prophesied demonic deluge. The problem is it is so in your face that few actually ‘see’ it. There is such a technological saturation of evil – from entertainment mediums to virtual fantasy porn – that a ‘normalcy bias’ kicks in to overdrive.” And Gallups concluded ominously what modern Christians are witnessing is nothing new. “It’s kind of like the days of Noah,” he said. “Everyone just ‘ate and drank’ even though their judgment was staring them in the face, just like Jesus warned. The Lion of prophecy is roaring. I wonder if anyone actually hears it?” SPECIAL OFFER – $4.95! If God is real, so are the devil and his minions. Each one of us is in a spiritual war – and the consequences for defeat are unimaginable. Learn how to fight and win in “Spiritual Warfare” by Dr. Karl Payne, available now in the WND Superstore.

2016-08-17 02:35 www.wnd.com

84 Zika now a threat to U. S. blood banks Contact WND The mosquito-borne Zika virus is creating headaches for blood banks in several counties where the disease has been found in Florida, according to a new federal report. The Congressional Research Service report says that on July 27, the Food and Drug Administration advised blood centers in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in Florida to stop collecting blood until they could test each donated unit for the Zika virus, using a test that the FDA cleared for use earlier this year. OneBlood, which collects blood throughout most of the state, had already decided, after consulting with the Florida Department of Health, to suspend collections in south Florida. Two days later, FDOH announced the first cases of a mosquito-borne transmission in the continental United States, originating in Miami-Dade county. OneBlood began testing all blood units collected throughout its service area. The report said the Zika-related donor deferrals “have exacerbated an already tight U. S. blood supply this summer.” “Last month, the nation’s blood bankers issued a joint appeal for blood donors to sustain inventories across the country.” Find about what the Bible has to say about health, in “Bible Health Secrets,” by Reginald Cherry. The report described how the Zika virus was first recognized in Uganda in 1947 and moved into the Western Hemisphere in 2015. “Although most cases of ZIKV infection are mild, prenatal infection can cause severe birth defects, including microcephaly,” the report said. “ZIKV is transmitted among humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, by sexual contact, from mother to fetus, and through contaminated blood transfusion.” Puerto Rico already has reported nearly 6,000 cases, the report said. It was on July 29 that the Florida government reported four cases of mosquito-borne transmission of ZIKV originating from one neighborhood in Miami. Those were the first such cases in the continental United States. Then almost two-dozen cases were reported from the same neighborhood. Warnings already had been issued that pregnant women should avoid affected regions. The FDA also had recommended screening procedures, including a set for blood centers where there have been no reports of Zika transmission. There, donations should be delayed if a potential donor reports traveling in a Zika transmission area, has engaged in dangerous behaviors or may have been exposed. In areas where the virus already has been spotted, donations should be suspended until testing procedures are available, the report said. “CDC does not anticipate widespread mosquito-borne transmission of ZIKV on the U. S. mainland. However, the affected Miami-Dade neighborhood may be the first of a number of ‘hot spots’ of local ZIKV transmission this summer and fall. In that case, more widespread testing may be needed to adequately protect the blood supply,” CRS reported. WND has reported the thousands of cases in Puerto Rico already this summer, as well as the fact that the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services shifted $81 million in funds from other projects to continue developing vaccines to fight Zika. WND also reported Zika at one point was eradicated in Brazil. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that Brazil used DDT to knock out Zika during the 1950s and 1960s. “They did it successfully but they did it in a way that would be almost non- feasible today – very heavy use of DDT,” he said recently. “So it can be done. But historically it was done in a way that might not be acceptable now.” The reason it is not acceptable today, say experts, is because of politics and irrational public fears stoked by a popular environmentalist treatise published in 1962, Rachel Carlson’s “Silent Spring.” The proven mosquito killer was banned by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1972, even though it had saved the lives of tens of millions from malaria around the world. Carlson convinced the public that DDT represented a threat to bald eagles. She attributed thinner eggshells to DDT spraying, though the evidence never persuaded many scientists. Dr. Jane Orient is one of the voices urgently calling on renewed use of DDT spraying to fight the Zika plague. She got her B. A. in chemistry with honors, a B. S. in mathematics, summa cum laude at the University of Arizona, Tucson, in 1967, before earning her medical degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. She also serves as the managing editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons and is a member of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. Find about what the Bible has to say about health, in “Bible Health Secrets,” by Reginald Cherry. “If we do nothing,” she said, “a lot of people will get Zika [and] some will get Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which causes a potentially fatal paralysis.” Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control, she said, calls for not getting pregnant, wearing long-sleeve clothing and applying mosquito repellent. But it’s not working very well, she said. “I would say the biggest obstacle to Zika control is unwillingness to do adequate vector control, and refusal to even consider the weapon that worked in the past – DDT,” said Orient. Created in 1874 by a German chemist, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane wasn’t found to be an effective insecticide until 1939 when Swiss chemist Paul Müller started publicizing its usefulness as an eradicator of mosquitoes and various vermin. Müller won the 1948 Nobel Prize “for his discovery of the high efficiency of DDT as a contact poison against several anthropods.” Use of DDT became widespread. Typhus, which had ravaged U. S. forces during World War II, was largely eliminated. In the United States, sickness and death caused by malaria shrank from 15,000 cases in 1947 to complete eradication by 1951. The use of DDT in Africa and elsewhere proved sensationally effective against malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Orient said DDT saved at least 500 million lives without killing anyone except mosquitoes. “Current insecticides are less effective, far more expensive, and far more toxic – both to humans and the environment,” she says. “After widespread massive use in agriculture, we know a lot about DDT. It was not killing off the birds. DEET, recommended by the CDC, is probably more harmful.” Less than a century since DDT was first used, the spread of the Zika virus through mosquitoes has left many wondering whether regulators were too quick to move away from the chemical. “It’s a difficult question, and it’s a very controversial question,” said Jonathan Chevrier, an assistant professor at McGill University, regarding how policymakers weigh the use of DDT to protect public health. “What the Zika virus is potentially doing is terrible. But using any pesticide needs to be considered very, very carefully.”

2016-08-17 02:35 Bob Unruh www.wnd.com

85 There's a reason soldiers believe in God Contact WND After having the Declaration of Independence read to his troops, General George Washington issued the order, July 9, 1776: “Commanding officers of each regiment are directed to procure Chaplains … persons of good Characters and exemplary lives – To see that all inferior officers and soldiers pay them a suitable respect and attend carefully upon religious exercises. The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger – The General hopes and trusts, that every officer and man, will endeavour so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier, defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country. … The peace and safety of his Country depends (under God) solely on the success of our arms.” On May 2, 1778, General George Washington issued the order to his troops at Valley Forge: “The Commander-in-Chief directs that Divine service be performed every Sunday at 11 o’clock, in each Brigade which has a Chaplain. Those Brigades which have none will attend the places of worship nearest to them. It is expected that officers of all ranks will, by their attendance, set an example for their men. While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished Character of Christian.” On Nov. 15, 1862, President Lincoln ordered: “The discipline and character of the national forces should not suffer nor the cause they defend be imperiled by the profanation of the day or name of the Most High. … ‘At this time of public distress,’ adopting the words of Washington in 1776, ‘men may find enough to do in the service of God and their country without abandoning themselves to vice and immorality. …'” Lincoln added: “… The first general order issued by the Father of his Country after the Declaration of Independence indicates the spirit in which our institutions were founded and should ever be defended: ‘The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.'” President Benjamin Harrison ordered, June 7, 1889: “In November, 1862, President Lincoln quoted the words of Washington to sustain his own views, and announced in a general order that – ‘The President, Commander-in- Chief of the Army and Navy, desires and enjoins the orderly observance of the Sabbath by the officers and men in the military and naval service. The importance for man and beast of the prescribed weekly rest, the sacred rights of Christian soldiers and sailors, a becoming deference to the best sentiment of a Christian people, and a due regard for the Divine Will demand that Sunday labor in the Army and Navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity.’ …” Discover more of Bill Federer’s eye-opening books and videos in the WND Superstore! President Benjamin Harrison added: “… To recall the kindly and considerate spirit of the orders issued by these great men in the most trying times of our history, and to promote contentment and efficiency, the President directs that Sunday morning inspection will be merely of the dress and general appearance.” President Woodrow Wilson gave the order, Jan. 20, 1918: “The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, following the reverent example of his predecessors, desires and enjoins the orderly observance of the Sabbath by the officers and men in the military and naval service of the United States. The importance for man and beast of the prescribed weekly rest, the sacred rights of Christian soldiers and sailors, a becoming deference to the best sentiment of a Christian people, and a due regard for the Divine Will demand that Sunday labor in the Army and Navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity. Such an observance of Sunday is dictated by the best traditions of our people and by the convictions of all who look to Divine Providence for guidance and protection, and, in repeating in this order the language of President Lincoln, the President in confident that he is speaking alike to the hearts and to the consciences of those under his authority.” In 1947, the U. S. Corp of Cadets required: “Attendance at chapel is part of a cadet’s training; no cadet will be exempted. Each cadet will receive religious training in one of the three particular faiths: Protestant, Catholic or Jewish.” In 1949, the U. S. Naval Academy required: “All Midshipmen, except those on authorized outside church parties, shall attend Sunday services in the chapel.” On Aug. 17, 1955, President Dwight Eisenhower, who had been Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Forces during World War II, authorized the code of conduct for U. S. soldiers, which stated: “I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. … If captured … I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy. … I will never forget I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.” President Dwight Eisenhower stated Dec. 24, 1953, lighting the national Christmas tree: “George Washington long ago rejected exclusive dependence upon mere materialistic values. In the bitter and critical winter at Valley Forge, when the cause of liberty was so near defeat, his recourse was sincere and earnest prayer. … As religious faith is the foundation of free government, so is prayer an indispensable part of that faith.” President Dwight Eisenhower broadcast from the White House for the American Legion’s Back-to-God, Feb. 7, 1954: “As a former soldier, I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth – that there are no atheists in the foxholes. They know that in time of test and trial, we instinctively turn to God for new courage.” President Dwight Eisenhower stated at the opening of the White House Conference of Mayors, Dec. 14, 1953: “I want to point out something about fighting – about war. … The winning of war – the effectiveness in such things – is in the heart, in the determination, in the faith. It is in our beliefs in our country, in our God, everything that goes to make up America.” President Dwight Eisenhower, Feb. 20, 1955, stated for the American Legion Back-To-God Program: “The Founding Fathers … recognizing God as the author of individual rights, declared that the purpose of Government is to secure those rights. … But in many lands the State claims to be the author of human rights. … If the State gives rights, it can – and inevitably will – take away those rights. Without God, there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first – the most basic – expression of Americanism. Thus the Founding Fathers saw it, and thus, with God’s help, it will continue to be. … Veterans realize, perhaps more clearly than others, the prior place that Almighty God holds in our national life.” Brought to you by AmericanMinute.com . Discover more of Bill Federer’s eye-opening books and videos in the WND Superstore!

2016-08-17 02:34 Bill Federer www.wnd.com

86 1st-century synagogue discovered in Galilee Contact WND It seems everywhere you dig in Israel, archaeologists seem to find ancient synagogues. That was the case again in the Galilee last week as a site called Tel Rekhesh, which corresponds to the first-century village of Anaharath, produced another one – just four inches underground. It’s being called a Second Temple era discovery, which means it was there when Jesus preached in the Galilee. However, the only biblical reference to Anaharath is found in Joshua 19:19. Do you long to see the Holy Land of Israel for yourself? There’s still time to be part of WND’s annual tour this November with Joseph Farah and Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, New York Times bestselling author of “The Harbinger” and “The Mystery of the Shemitah” along with the inspiration for the No. 1 faith movie of 2012 and 2013, “The Isaiah 9:10 Judgment.” Experts believe the agricultural estate was abandoned after the Bar Kokhba Revolt, which destroyed the more southern Kingdom of Judah but left the Galilee relatively undamaged. Dr. Aviam said it appeared the residents of the estate fled for an unknown reason, though the Romans conducted a scorched-earth military campaign against Jews throughout Israel after the Bar Kokhba Revolt. The structure is reportedly nine meters long and eight meters wide A team headed by Dr. Moti Aviam of the Kinneret Institute has been digging at Tel Rekhesh for six years. It’s reportedly the first synagogue of its kind found in what was once a rural estate, unlike another found in what was an ancient city. He said the synagogue was found on what was in ancient times an agricultural estate, where several Jewish families lived. The benches that line the walls, similar to those seen in Sephardic synagogues, provide evidence that the structure was a synagogue.

2016-08-17 02:33 www.wnd.com

87 UK hate preacher faces years in jail for supporting Isil Hate preacher Anjem Choudary, who helped radicalise a string of terrorists, including British soldier Lee Rigby's killers, is facing years in jail for drumming up support for Isil. The British-born 49-year-old encouraged backing for the terrorist group in a series of talks posted on YouTube, and recognised a caliphate - a symbolic Islamic state - had been created under an Isil leader after it was announced on June 29, 2014, the Old Bailey heard. Despite being a leading figure in the banned group al-Muhajiroun (ALM), and a series of former supporters going on to be convicted of terrorism, Choudary stayed on the right side of the law for two decades before investigators were able to pin him down. Choudary and co-defendant Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, (33) were found guilty of inviting support for Isil between June 29, 2014 and March 6, 2015. The verdicts were delivered on July 28, but for legal reasons could only be reported for the first time yesterday. As the pair were convicted, Mr Justice Holroyde said: "You have made your disregard for the court abundantly plain. " Choudary faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison. Police pounced after Choudary, along with three other influential radicals, lent their names to an oath of allegiance to Isil which was posted on the internet. The trial heard that the preacher, viewed by officers as a key force in radicalising young Muslims, had been the "mouthpiece" of Omar Bakri Mohammed - the founder of ALM. He courted publicity by voicing controversial views on Sharia law, while building up a following of thousands through social media, demonstrations and lectures around the world. In one speech in March 2013, Choudary set out his ambitions for the Muslim faith to "dominate the whole world". Supporters included Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, the murderers of Lee Rigby, and suspected Isil executioner Siddhartha Dhar. Choudary, of Hampton Road, Ilford, and Rahman, of Sidney Street in Whitechapel, east London, will be sentenced on September 6.

2016-08-17 02:30 Michael Silke www.independent.ie

88 UK could get 'special status' in Brexit deal with EU Britain could be given a "special status" in its relationship with the European Union after Brexit is complete, Germany's foreign affairs minister said yesterday - but it should not drag its feet over divorce talks with the EU, he added. Michael Roth said that Britain should be ready to invoke Article 50 by January 2017, despite reports that the Brexit ministries run by David Davis and Liam Fox were in chaos. But Boris Johnson (pictured), the UK's Foreign Secretary, insisted yesterday: "We are ploughing ahead, working together to deliver a successful Brexit as quickly as possible. The Prime Minister is clear - she expects us to knuckle down and get on with it. " Mr Roth gave no details about what a "special status" might entail for the UK, but noted that arrangements with states such as Norway would not be suitable. "Given Britain's size, significance and its long membership of the European Union, there will probably be a special status which only bears limited comparison to that of countries that have never belonged to the European Union. " (© Daily Telegraph, London)

2016-08-17 02:30 Peter Foster www.independent.ie

89 Digging starts in Poland to find rumoured Nazi gold train The world will know within "three or four days" whether a Nazi train full of gold bullion lies buried in a secret railway siding in southwest Poland, a team of treasure hunters has claimed. Excavations began on a railway embankment yesterday close to the southern city of Walbrzych, despite independent research concluding that the team will not find the fabled train. According to a local legend, the train and its cargo disappeared into the mountains around Walbrzych as the Nazis fled the advancing Red Army in 1945. Its whereabouts remained a source of speculation until last year, when Piotr Koper and Andreas Richter, two treasure hunters, claimed they had located the spot. Andrzej Gaik, a spokesman for the hunters, said: "If it's there, we will find it. " He added that preliminary work carried out over the weekend using ground- penetrating radar appeared to show they were on the right track. In December, a study of the site carried out by experts from Krakow's University of Science and Technology found no trace of the train. Historians have also pointed out that the only evidence supporting the claims comes from the testimony of now-deceased witnesses who said they saw German troops parking a train in a secret siding.

2016-08-17 02:30 Matthew Day www.independent.ie

90 Russia launches airstrikes on Syria from airbase in Iran Russian bombers began flying missions over Syria from an Iranian airbase yesterday, the first time the Islamic Republic has allowed a foreign power to conduct military operations from its territory since the 1979 revolution. Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and SU-34 strike fighters flying from a base 200 miles west of Tehran struck targets near Aleppo, Deir Ezzor and Idlib in the first mission from Iran yesterday morning, the Russian ministry of defence said in a statement. "Flying with full bomb loads from Iran's Hamadan airbase, the aircraft carried out group attacks on Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra positions," the ministry said. Jabhat al-Nusra is the former name of Jabhat Fatah al- Sham, a powerful rebel jihadist group previously affiliated with al-Qa'ida. Iranian officials confirmed the country had offered Russia use of military infrastructure for its air campaign in Syria. "Cooperation between Tehran and Moscow against terrorism in Syria is of a strategic character. We must unite our potential and capabilities," Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told the country's IRNA news agency. Russian state television showed footage of bombers and a transport aircraft apparently landing in Iran yesterday, but it is unclear how many aircraft have been deployed there or for how long. The deployment strengthens a de facto alliance between Russia and Iran in Syria, where both countries have intervened in support of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Iran is believed to have dispatched thousands of troops and auxiliaries to the war-torn country over the past few years. Russia launched airstrikes in support of Syrian forces in September 2015, and is also believed to have deployed undisclosed numbers of special forces, tanks, and artillery. Yesterday's mission is thought to be the first time Russian aircraft have flown missions from Iran and potentially marks a major expansion of Russia's military presence in the Middle East. The deployment also brings considerable tactical advantages. Long-range bombers like the TU-22s that took part in yesterday's raid are unable to use the short runways at Hmeymim, Syria, and operating from Iran will more than halve flying time from Russia. Iran has a historically strained relationship with Russia, and granting foreign forces access to its territory for the first time in four decades was "quite a brave decision" prompted by battlefield considerations said Sergei Sazhin, a professor at Moscow's Institute for Middle Eastern Studies. The closer Russian-Iranian alliance may have been prompted by an escalating struggle for control of Syria's second city of Aleppo, where a Syrian rebel offensive shattered a government siege a week ago. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

2016-08-17 02:30 Roland Oliphant www.independent.ie

91 Death toll hits eight in catastrophic US floods An act of God is how some are describing the catastrophic 48-hour torrent of rain that sent thousands scrambling for safety in Louisiana - and left many wondering how a region accustomed to hurricanes could get caught off guard so badly. At least 40,000 homes were damaged and eight people killed in the historic Louisiana floods, the governor said yesterday, giving a stark assessment of the disaster. Governor John Bel Edwards spoke at a news conference alongside Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Craig Fugate, saying "well over" 20,000 people have been rescued. His office later increased that figure to more than 30,000. Beginning on Friday, a torrent of about two feet of rain inundated the southern part of the state over a 48- hour period, and days later many homes and businesses were still underwater. While the rain has mostly stopped, rivers and creeks in many areas are still dangerously bloated and new places were getting hit by flooding. "It was an absolute act of God. We're talking about places that have literally never flooded before," said Anthony 'Ace' Cox, who started a Facebook group to help collect information about where people were stranded. "Everybody got caught off guard," he said. Forecasters said one reason was the sheer, almost off-the-charts intensity of the storm and the difficulty of predicting how bad it would be.

2016-08-17 02:30 Michael Kunzelman www.independent.ie

92 Trump's policy 'absolutely bewilders me', says Clinton Hillary Clinton has a six- percentage-point lead over Republican rival Donald Trump, according to a Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll released yesterday. Clinton's support has ranged from 41 to 44pc since late July, and was about 41pc in the August 11-15 online poll. Trump's support has experienced wider shifts ranging from 33 to 39pc while his campaign has endured controversies and distractions in recent weeks. He is favoured by about 35pc of likely voters, according to the most recent poll. The number of likely voters who picked neither Clinton nor Trump in the poll was nearly 24pc. Meanwhile, Democratic Party nominee Clinton vowed yesterday to conduct a national security and foreign policy that Americans could be proud of, saying rival Donald Trump "just absolutely bewilders" her when he talks about his policies around the globe. "It just absolutely bewilders me when I hear Donald Trump try to talk about national security," Clinton said, pointing to Vice-President Joe Biden's dissection of Trump's foreign policy at a Pennsylvania event. "What (Trump) often says hurts us. It sends the wrong message to friend and foe alike. " Trump this week said the country's national security requirements demanded "extreme" vetting of immigrants seeking admission to the United States, pointing to the threat of the Islamic State group and terrorism elements. But he offered few specifics about how the process might work or how it would be paid for by taxpayers. Clinton and Trump have each sought the upper hand as the chief executive most capable of battling terrorism. While the Republican business mogul has vowed to project strength and decisive action against terror, the former secretary of state has pointed to her deep foreign policy credentials and warned that Trump could plunge the nation into another war. Support While polls have shown Clinton building a lead following the Philadelphia convention, Democrats are fearful that a depressed voter turnout might diminish support among the minority, young and female voters who powered President Barack Obama to two victories. Clinton said at the voter registration event at a Philadelphia high school that she's "not taking anybody anywhere for granted" in the race for the White House, saying the stakes "could not be higher. " While guarding against complacency, Clinton is also preparing for a potential administration. Her campaign announced that former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, a former Colorado senator, would chair her White House transition team. It will also include former National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and two longtime Clinton advisers: Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress, and Maggie Williams, who now leads the Institute of Politics at Harvard University. Her team, which is being overseen by campaign chairman John Podesta, will handle long-term planning for a potential Clinton White House should the former secretary of state win the election in November. Trump has already tapped New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to lead his transition efforts. By law, both nominees have access to national security and other federal government briefings.

2016-08-17 02:30 Luciana Lopez www.independent.ie

93 Boffins find flaw in always looking on bright side of life The widely held view that people naturally look on the bright side of life may be wrong, say psychologists. For decades, experts believed that it is normal to expect good things to happen in the future and underestimate the possibility of bad outcomes - a trait known as "irrational optimism bias". But a new study suggests this assumption may be based on flawed research. After reassessing the evidence, scientists concluded there was no basis for the claim that optimism bias is fundamental to human psychology. The findings are important because belief in optimism bias can affect the way policymakers deal with issues ranging from financial crises to obesity and climate change. Optimism bias is even taken into account by governments when planning and funding large infrastructure projects, it is claimed. Study author Dr Adam Harris, from University College London, said: "Previous studies, which have used flawed methodologies to claim that people are optimistic across all situations and that this bias is 'normal', are now in serious doubt. We need to look for new ways of studying optimism bias to establish whether it is a universal feature of human cognition or not. "This assumption that people are optimistically biased is being used to guide large infrastructure projects, with the aim of managing expectations around how much projects will cost and how long they will take to complete. Our research supports a re-examination of optimism bias before allowing it to guide clinical research and policy. " Research has suggested that people fail to learn from bad news when told the actual chance of experiencing a negative life event, such as cancer. This is said to provide support for optimism bias. For the new study, computer simulations were designed to behave in a completely rational way when faced with the psychological test of learning from good versus bad news. The programs were not capable of optimism and unable to show bias. Yet they produced the same data patterns that have previously been interpreted as showing evidence of optimism bias. The research showed how apparent optimism can arise from purely statistical processes. Optimism bias is merely a statistical artefact that arises because of the relative rarity of negative events, according to the findings published in the journal 'Cognitive Psychology'. Co-author Punit Shah, from King's College London, said: "There is ample evidence for optimism bias in various real-world situations - England football fans for example - but these instances simply show that certain people might be optimistic in certain situations; not that they are generally optimistic. "

2016-08-17 02:30 John von www.independent.ie

94 Japanese photographer who clones women Well, there's a different you who called in sick today,and is lounging around at home with their feet up, maybe watching some TV. Imagine that "self" gave you a call: "Hi buddy! How's your day going? " Japanese photographer Daisuke Takakura playfully creates these scenes. Using a combination of traditional photography, theatrical staging, and post-production editing, he creates a world where a different version of your person could pay you a visit. There are infinite possibilities for what we could be doing at this moment, but Takakura imagines a handful really come into being, and could hang out together. Is this a world you'd want to live in? Scroll through the gallery to understand why Takakura thinks we should embrace this new world.

2016-08-17 02:28 rss.cnn.com

95 Dennis Ross doubts Obama will push UN resolution US President Barack Obama will probably deliver a final speech on the Mideast before leaving office in January, though he is unlikely to translate the principles of that speech into a UN Security Council resolution, according to veteran US Mideast negotiator Dennis Ross. Speaking Monday at a symposium in Washington sponsored by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Ross said that while it is unlikely Obama wants to launch a big diplomatic initiative before his term ends, a speech laying out the parameters of a Mideast accord was likely, and something Obama would see as his Mideast “legacy.” Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. Ross, who dealt with Middle East issues under George H. W. Bush as well as under Bill Clinton and Obama, said the president feels that if he sets down a set of parameters about how the conflict could be resolved – even if neither side would accept those guidelines – “over time the rest of the international community and the Israelis and Palestinians will come to realize that these are the only parameters that will actually work.” According to the former diplomat, who worked in Obama’s Administration during his first term and is currently a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, speeches by presidents at the end of their presidencies “frankly don’t have that big of an impact on anybody.” Ross said that because Obama’s speech was likely to be balanced in terms of addressing both Israeli and Palestinian needs, it’s parameters could not then be turned into a UN Security Council resolution. The only Security Council resolution that could be produced at this time is one that precisely spells out what the Palestinians want in terms of borders, a state and Jerusalem, but would then be very vague on Israel’s concerns about security and refugees, he said. This type of resolution, he added, “would actually make things worse, not better. I don’t think the administration will make a big effort at the Security Council, because I think they realize the likely effect.” Asked what his advice to the next president would be regarding how to improve US-Israel relations, Ross recommend making very clear that there would be a focus on strictly enforcing the Iranian nuclear deal. This would win immediate points both with the Israelis and America’s traditional friends in the Arab world, he said. Ross suggested the establishment of a “joint implementation committee with Israel to watch very carefully what is going on with the agreement.” Likewise, he suggested “contingency plan discussions” with Israel and Arab states on “how to contend with Iranian threats in the region.” Ross also recommended that the next president establish a “back channel” between the new president and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, something that does not exist today. “Re-establish that,” he said of this type of communication channel. “I think there will be a strong impulse on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s side to show that if there were tensions in the relationship, it was not because of him, and he will want to get the relationship off on a good footing. And I suspect the next president here will want to show that things are also on a sound footing as well.” Ross said he did not know what to expect regarding US involvement in the diplomatic process if Republican candidate Donald Trump would win the elections. As for a Clinton presidency, he said she would likely commit herself to “working on the issue.” But, he added, there is a big difference between working on the issue and raising expectations that peace is lurking around the corner. There is a range of activities between doing nothing, and “saying we can solve it.” Ross, whose name has been mentioned as a possible player on Mideast issues in a Clinton administration, said that he thought the issue needed to be dealt with on a number of different levels. The first thing, he said, was the need to “restore belief” on both sides that things could change and create “a sense of possibility again.” To do that, he said, it will be necessary to work with each side, “to have them take some steps to demonstrate or manifest a commitment to two- states.” In addition, he added, “you have to bring the Arab states into this.” Ross said with the Palestinians weak, divided, and focused very much on who will succeed PA President Mahmoud Abbas, they will find it difficult on their own to do anything. “You need to see if you can create Arab state involvement, Arab state coverage.” That “coverage,” he noted, is also needed for Israel, since the Israeli public is skeptical regarding what they might receive from the Palestinians, and would like to know what they could expect from the Arab world. With so many other problems in the region, Ross added, it was unclear whether “the Arab states have enough bandwidth to get involved,” but this needed to be probed. Think others should know about this? Please share | |

2016-08-17 02:28 HERB KEINON www.jpost.com

96 Rape case from the past casts pallor on 'Birth of a Nation' LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 17-year-old rape accusation and recent reports that the female accuser who continued to be haunted by the case committed suicide in 2012 has cast a shadow over Nate Parker's upcoming "The Birth of a Nation," a film that was expected to be one of the year's most important. "The Birth of a Nation," a drama about Nat Turner's 1831 slave rebellion, has been pegged as an Academy Awards candidate since its award-winning debut at last January's Sundance Film Festival, where it fetched a record $17.5 million acquisition price from Fox Searchlight. "The Birth of a Nation," which Parker stars in, co-wrote, co-produced and directed, is a film some believe will help sweep in a more diverse field of Oscar nominees, along with providing a breakthrough for Parker. But after a handful of trade interviews in which Parker discussed the rape charges he faced and was then acquitted of as a student at Penn State University in 1999, Parker's past is what's drawing headlines well before the October release of "The Birth of a Nation. " Attention has only intensified with the news Tuesday from The Hollywood Reporter and Variety that the accuser, who was not named, killed herself in 2012 at the age of 30 after a few prior attempts that same year, according to court documents. Representatives for Parker and the studio did not immediately respond to request for comment about the latest reports. As a 19-year-old wrestler at Penn State, Parker and his roommate Jean Celestin (who has a story credit on "The Birth of a Nation") were charged with raping the 18-year-old student. The woman said she was unconscious at the time and didn't consent to the sex. Parker, who testified that he and the woman had previously had sex, and Celestin maintained that it was consensual. Parker was acquitted in 2001. Celestin was convicted of sexual assault, but that was later overturned when the woman opted not to testify again for a 2005 retrial. She sued Penn State and was awarded a settlement out of court. Her suffering reportedly continued, however. The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday spoke to S. Daniel Carter, a sexual assault advocate, who said the accuser was "tormented" by "the constant contact and fear of seeing her assailants on campus. " The accuser's brother, identified only as Johnny, also spoke about his sister. "If I were to look back at her very short life and point to one moment where I think she changed as a person, it was obviously that point," Johnny told Variety. "The trial was pretty tough for her. " After the trial, Johnny said, his sister moved around frequently and became a mother to a son with her boyfriend. "I think the ghosts continued to haunt her," he said. The case largely escaped notice at Sundance, but in a pair of trade interviews published Friday, Parker confronted it straightforwardly. "I was sure it would come up," Parker told Deadline. "I stand here, a 36-year-old man, 17 years removed from one of the painful moments in my life. And I can imagine it was painful for everyone. I was cleared of everything, of all charges. I've done a lot of living, and raised a lot of children. I've got five daughters and a lovely wife. " In the bright spotlight of Hollywood's awards season, far less has hurt a film's chances with Oscar voters. On the other hand, Parker wasn't found guilty and he has faced the case more directly than some Hollywood stars have in the past. A lot is on the line for Fox Searchlight, which paid more for "The Birth of a Nation" than any previous Sundance film. The movie's striking poster features Parker as Turner with a noose made out of an American flag. The film will play in September at the Toronto International Film Festival. In an earlier statement, Fox Searchlight said: "Fox Searchlight is aware of the incident that occurred while Nate Parker was at Penn State. We also know that he was found innocent and cleared of all charges. We stand behind Nate and are proud to help bring this important and powerful story to the screen. " ___ This story corrects that the sexual assault advocate mentioned in the 9th paragraph was not affiliated with Penn State. 2016-08-17 02:28 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk

97 UC Berkeley head resigns after criticism over response to sexual harassment Nicholas Dirks, chancellor of the University of California , Berkeley announced his resignation on Tuesday, the latest high-profile administrator to step down at the elite college that has been plagued by repeated sexual harassment scandals. Dirks has faced backlash for his administration’s handling of harassment cases involving powerful faculty at the state’s most prestigious public university. He wrote in a campus-wide letter that it was a “personal decision that the time is right for me to step aside and allow someone else to take up the financial and institutional challenges ahead of us”. Dirks briefly addressed the ongoing sexual misconduct controversies in his note, saying that during his time as chancellor, “we have begun to address growing concerns around sexual assault, violence, and harassment on campus”. In a short statement, UC president Janet Napolitano said she accepted the resignation “with deep appreciation for Chancellor Dirks’s efforts on behalf of this great institution”. She said the university would immediately form a committee to search for his successor and that Dirks would remain on the job until his replacement takes over. Dirks’ departure comes four months after administrator Claude Steele resigned as executive vice chancellor and provost of UC Berkeley after widespread criticisms of his role in addressing sexual harassment claims against the dean of the renowned law school. Dirks had repeatedly defended Steele, who was accused of a major conflict of interest in his disciplining of former UC Berkeley law dean Sujit Choudhry. After the university concluded that Choudhry had harassed his executive assistant , Steele chose not terminate the dean and instead temporarily cut the dean’s salary by 10% – a punishment that victims’ advocates said was insufficient. It was later revealed that Choudhry had nominated Steele to the Berkeley law faculty at the same time that the sexual harassment investigation was in process. In an interview with the Guardian after he resigned, Steele said he had “regrets” about the sanctions he chose for Choudhry. The Choudhry case was just one of numerous sexual harassment stories that received national attention and plagued Dirks’ administration. Geoffrey Marcy, a prominent UC Berkeley astronomer, resigned in the wake of reports that he did not face serious discipline after the school determined that he had repeatedly sexually harassed students. Numerous graduate students have also come forward with complaints about the university’s handling of their claims of harassment by an assistant professor in the in the department of south and south-east Asian studies. Napolitano had publicly raised concerns about Dirks’ handling of another harassment case involving Graham Fleming, former vice chancellor of research. After Fleming lost that position amid a sexual harassment scandal, Dirks appointed him to another administrative post , and Fleming was paid a $20,000 stipend and reimbursed for travel in Europe and Asia. In a letter to Dirks , Napolitano wrote: “I expect you to immediately remove Professor Fleming from any administrative positions that he holds.” She also said she would be establishing a peer review committee to approve these types of sanctions moving forward. Dirks, who has been Berkeley’s chancellor since 2013, also recently faced a probe over allegations that he improperly used a campus gym and personal trainer. Opponents have further slammed Dirks for his handling of the university’s budget and for his $700,000 expenditure on a security fence around his official residence. Most recently, critics lamented that Dirks had constructed a so-called “ escape hatch ” to flee student protests near his office, though the university said students had mischaracterized a “door”. Dirks’ resignation comes one week after the chancellor of UC Davis stepped down following an ethics violation probe and reports that she had tried to scrub negative stories about her from the internet. In his Tuesday letter, Dirks said he had invested significant resources in the university’s Title IX office, which handles sexual harassment and assault cases. He also claimed he had invested in “better organized structures, procedures, and standards for prevention, care and advocacy, investigation and adjudication, sanctions, and community awareness and resolve”. Dirks’ letter further read that he has worked to increase the diversity of the college’s senior administration. UC Berkeley praised Dirks in a statement to reporters on Tuesday, saying: “During his tenure, major initiatives were launched to strengthen undergraduate education [and] improve policies and practices related to preventing and penalizing sexual violence and sexual harassment.”

2016-08-17 02:25 Sam Levin www.theguardian.com

98 These family photos will make you rethink relationships Nearly everyone's taken one. Arrange people in front of a lens. One, two, three, say cheese! But does the family make the photo, or does the photo make the family? That's the question asked by a new exhibition at the Hong Kong International Photo Festival that explores how family photos -- from the ordinary to the absurd -- determine how we think about our own relationships. Ordinary photos? Take the seemingly plain looking photo of grandparents with their grandchild in a homely living room. A placid old man reclines in an armchair with a newspaper, his feet propped up wearing wooly socks. At his side, a child sits on an elderly woman's lap while they read together. Here's the twist: The man is China's former president Deng Xiaoping, more often pictured in bombastic propaganda posters than in candid home shots. But you don't need to know that to read the relationships, because family photos speak a language we all understand -- whether we're common people or Communist leaders. For many artists in this show, the family photo's simple conventions are what make it a ripe genre for play and subversion. Japanese photographer Masashi Asada struggled to decide which family events he wanted to take pictures of, so he began to stage his father, mother, and brother in fantastical scenarios. In one shot, he poses along with his loved ones as rock stars, shredding on stage at an underground show. In another, they pretend to be an intimidating yakuza family, with every detail painstakingly considered. He says his approach to family photos isn't about the past, but rather an imagined future. They're about how we're going through constant change. "All four of us could conceivably become yakuza," he jokes. Hong Kong's Lau Chi Chung creates a different kind of family fiction. He juxtaposes carefully selected old photographs of anonymous residents -- discovered through treasure hunts around the city -- with new photos of his own. The result is a set of dreamlike relationships between unrelated people in unrelated times and spaces. "The relationships in my series might be fictitious," says Lau. "But I think the feeling that's created is real. " Read: You can't go home again: Rebuilding lives after Fukushima Mapping relationships As the show suggests, family photos aren't just impartial records of people. We are drawn to these images because they're stand-ins for our memories and maps of our relationships. They are a declaration: Here are four edges of a frame; the people within this rectangle are a family. The show's curators set out to challenge this notion and it's why many of the works are a deliberate spin on the genre. "We wanted to have an open attitude — does a family just have to mean a mom, a dad, sons, daughters, and grandparents? " co-curator Bobby Sham tells CNN. One series, by Frankie Chan, pictures human families from a pet's point of view. Photographer-turned-monk Chang Lin turns his lens on leaves, flowers, and trees, suggesting that some of the purest familial relationships can be discovered in nature. Joe Lau documents the objects within Hong Kong's single-person households -- maybe a lone saucer, an ashtray, and a bottle of beer can be a kind of family, too. Stages of life But family photos don't just describe relationships, they can create relationships too. In one of the show's most moving projects, photographer Dick Lau approached bedridden elderly patients -- some terminally ill -- and asked them where they would go if they could return to the outside world. One man said his sweetest memories were walking through Hong Kong's Ocean Park with his wife — he wished he could spend one last afternoon there. Another, a former public minibus driver, said he just wanted to take his family for a final ride. In response, Lau printed out life-size photo backdrops and staged photoshoots with the patients and their families within the hospital walls -- materializing a future that would almost certainly never come true. The photoshoots helped the patients find peace, said Lau. "They are in the last stages of life. The only thing that matters to them: How much more time they can have with their family. " Truth in pictures While the artists' works use metaphors to take viewers backward and forward in time, they're really about the time we have right now -- with the people we love most, according to the curators. "The hidden context is the present," says Sham. "We just want people to come here and think about their own lives. " Indeed, it's impossible not to think about your own family while looking at the images. It's reflective of the medium's suggestive power -- a photograph almost never gives you the whole truth, but leaves you space to feel and remember. And each family photograph seems to say one thing over and over: I was here, and this is how I loved.

2016-08-17 02:25 Wilfred Chan rss.cnn.com

99 Kate Upton shows off her toned legs in tiny shorts as she takes a hike with her pet pooch Harley She's been documenting her grueling workouts on social media. But on Tuesday Kate Upton opted for a more leisurely exercise session as she took her dog Harley for a hike in Los Angeles. The 24- year-old model showed off her long slender legs in short shorts and a tank top as she enjoyed the sunshine. The star, who is engaged to Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, kept her hair tied back and donned a baseball cap to shade her face. Upton, who hails from Michigan, has three dogs in total. In March she confided to E! , 'I would love 10 dogs. 'Justin is definitely an animal lover but he is definitely holding me back from my 10 dogs,' she said, adding 'He is putting a three-dog limit on it.' The Other Woman star revealed her engagement to the athlete during the Met Gala in May as she flashed the stunning diamond ring the athlete designed for her. The couple, both of whom were once named Rookie Of The Year in their respective professions, reportedly began dating in 2013.

2016-08-17 02:23 Dailymail.com www.dailymail.co.uk

100 Jesinta Campbell leaves NOTHING to the imagination as she flaunts her white bra in a completely see-through lace blouse She is known for her risque fashion choices. But Jesinta Campbell donned one her most daring outfits yet as she headed out in Sydney on Wednesday. The 25-year-old left nothing to the imagination, flaunting her white bra underneath a completely see-through black lace blouse.

2016-08-17 02:22 Jade Watkins www.dailymail.co.uk

Total 100 articles. Created at 2016-08-17 06:00