It's that time of year again! With each new season comes a host of opportunities to spice up your look and incorporate the hottest fashion trends into your wardrobe. As always, a few trends that have gained momentum on the spring summer runways stay strong in the fall and other new and exciting trends emerge as the season's favorites. In Fall 2015 the boho trend has proved it is here to stay with Seventies-inspired retro outfits spotted on the runways of Burberry Prorsum, Tory Burch and Anna Sui, just to name a few. Velvet is another big trend this season; be it the statement velvet eveningwear at Ralph Lauren and Valentino or the bold colored velvet pants suit at Christopher Kane this luxurious fabric is making its mark. For Fall 2015 designers invite all fashionistas to get creative and let their animal instinct be their guide. From pants and jackets to skirts and dresses, designers presented a host of animal-inspired creations using everything from shearling and classic furs to colored faux furs and bright animal prints which are guaranteed to excite all the fashion-lovers among us! High shine pieces lit up the runways at Salvatore Ferragamo, Marc Jacobs and Balmain, while at Vera Wang and Alexander McQueen, it was all about the gothic glam! Graphic black and white prints dominated Fall 2015 runways and ranged from subtle and elegant stripes at Valentino and Victoria Beckham to all out optical illusions at Emilio Pucci and Roberto Cavalli. Read on to discover the season's latest trends and get a little inspiration on how to incorporate them into your wardrobe to achieve an on-trend look that is guaranteed to impress!
Designers sought inspiration from the animal world for Fall 2015, each with their own interpretations, providing a host of opportunities for you to get creative with your look. Designers showcased colored furs and more classic styles in everything from a camel-colored faux fur stole added as a finishing touch to perfect an outfit at 3.1 Phillip Lim to arctic-style fur at Dsquared2 and Lanvin which channeled a tribal vibe. Shearling is a trend that is still going strong this fall and was showcased on the runways of Paul Smith, Coach and Moschino. Animal prints at Carolina Herrera were classic and elegant while the colorful options making their way down the Miu Miu runway were tailored to the more daring divas among us!
Velvet is a fashion trend that is making waves this season. Long flowing velvet evening gowns that hug the body in all the right places were seen making their way down the runway at Ralph Lauren, Valentino and Chloé in a classic black while at House of Holland, a blue velvet above the knee dress with feather detailing combined two of this season's hottest trends in the one garment. At Christopher Kane a royal blue velvet pants suit with black detailing was showcased as well as velvet touches accentuating a classic black dress, while at Givenchy, velvet took on a punk vibe with pierced models donned in velvet dresses walking the runway.
This fall is your time to shine, literally! Designers sent high-shine creations down their runways, each achieving the effect in their own unique and creative manner; At Rodarte, Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs sequined outfits stole the limelight while at Paul Smith, Tod's and Salvatore Ferragamo satin pieces were incorporated into outfits to achieve the high-shine look. At J.W. Anderson and Balmain jewel-toned lurex channeled an Eighties vibe while shimmering metallics and metallic appliqués were also spotted on the runway of Giambattista Valli. At Maison Margiela the high shine trend took the form of slick vinyl coats with a wet look sheen, which had a decidedly Pretty Woman vibe!
The Seventies and all things bohemian was a huge trend for Spring–Summer 2015 and proved that it is here for the long haul. It was still all about peace and love for countless designers this fall including Etro, Dries Van Noten and Anna Sui, as retromania continued to dominate. Psychedelic Seventies prints were showcased at Christian Dior while at Burberry Prorsum the Seventies trend was interpreted through an abundance of fringe, flirty patterns and suede. At Tory Burch it was all about the pretty bohemian style, while for countless other designers the Seventies trend was apparent through the abundance of patchwork throughout their collections. In everything from fur coats and jumpsuits to slip dresses, designers such as Moschino and Chloé used patchwork, either playing it safe and color blocking with similar textures or being a little more daring and utilizing multiple styles to creating unique looks.
While black and white on the runway may not seem revolutionary, this season designers presented a myriad of black and white prints to choose from. Be it a subtle stripe or a bold optical illusion, graphic black and white is a big trend for Fall 2015. Victoria Beckham and Christian Dior presented subtle interpretations of the trend while Emilio Pucci and Roberto Cavalli mesmerized us with everything from jumpsuits, dresses and even boots adorned in daring optical prints. At Valentino it was all about the black and white stripes while at Louis Vuitton and Jill Stuart short dresses with graphic black and white prints were all the rage!
The gothic trend was given a bit of a glamorous makeover, with lots of leather, slashed pants, mini skirts, ripped tights and chain and stud detailing incorporated into the season's creations. At Vera Wang, gothic took on a sporty feel while at Calvin Klein and Rag & Bone the creative play on materials and textures appeared both hard and soft at the same time. At Alexander McQueen gothic took on an old Victorian feel while at Givenchy it was all out gothic glam as pierced models in head to toe black made their way down the runway. Marc Jacobs interpretation of the trend was ultra-feminine and sophisticated yet dark. The gothic trend was also spotted at Vivienne Westwood Red Label, Alexander Wang, Simone Rocha, Giles and Maison Margiela.


Figure 1: a) Photograph of degraded resin due to small flight radii, and b) schematic of flight radii: the small flight radius (R1) would likely cause a Moffat eddy, and the large flight radius (R2) relative to the channel depth (H) would likely not form a Moffat eddy.
Figure 2: Photographs of spiral Maddock mixers: a) mixer with very deep flutes and evidence of resin degradation, and b) a properly designed mixer where the depth of the flute is set at half of the width of the flute.
Note: This is a version of the authors' ANTEC® Indianapolis 2016 paper, specially abridged for Plastics Engineering. As of press time, the paper was scheduled to be delivered at ANTEC at 2:30 on Tuesday, May 24.
New and innovative film products are constantly produced on pilot and manufacturing lines using either a cast or blown film process. Many times these films will be sent to end users for evaluation. Acceptable quality and properties of the films are keys to the success of the new film product. Most of the time the new film produced has acceptable quality (very low gels) and physical properties. Alternatively, the incumbent resin may be replaced with a challenger resin as a method to remove cost from the product.
polymeric materials that are crosslinked via an oxidative process and appear as soft gels.
For most cases, the incumbent resin has been running on the film line for extended periods of time, producing a product with an acceptable quality. Here the gel level would be relatively low, with only minor levels of black specks and brown soft gels. The gels would likely originate from regions of the screw that were stagnant, allowing the resin to degrade. When the challenger resin is fed to the extruder, slight differences in the processability of the resin relative to the incumbent resin will cause these degraded resin fragments to separate from the screw and contaminate the challenger extrudate. In many cases, the challenger resin receives the blame for the gels rather than the incumbent resin and poor screw design.
The incumbent effect starts off by running a single-screw extruder for extended periods of time with the same resin (incumbent). Here the extrudate and film appear acceptable with only a few gels and black specks in the film product. These gels and black specs are generated in stagnant regions of the screw. The majority of the gels, however, are attached to the screw and are stable; i.e., not separating from the screw at a rate high enough to alarm quality specialists in the plant.
Next, as a short trial or prototype run, the incumbent resin is switched with a challenger resin. Even though the challenger resin may be similar, it will likely process slightly different than the incumbent resin. This slight difference in processing is often enough to cause the old degraded material that is adhering to the screw to separate from the screw and contaminate the extrudate.
The old degradation will start to come out of the die typically in about five minutes after the switch for blown film lines. The initial discharge of gels is sometimes viewed as a gel shower, and then a high level of gels will continue to be observed for the short duration of the trial run. In many cases, plant personnel will unknowingly blame the high level of gels on the last change—in this case, the switch to the challenger resin. That is, the challenger resin is incorrectly blamed for the high level of gels. In severe cases, the trial is stopped and the challenger resin is eliminated as an acceptable resin for the application. The incumbent resin continues as the preferred resin. The root cause for the gels, however, is a poorly designed extruder screw and not the challenger resin. This is the incumbent resin effect.
A necessary condition for the incumbent effect is minor design flaws in the screw. These flaws are regions where small amounts of resin stagnate, degrade, and then separate from the screw, causing defects in the film product. The level of gels is manageable at steady-state conditions for the incumbent resin. However, the slight upsets that occur by introducing a challenger resin can cause the degraded material to separate from the screw at a faster rate. If the challenger resin was processed for an extended period of time, likely the same level of gels would eventually occur. Typically, the challenger resin is extruded for only short trials, and is incorrectly blamed for the higher level of gels.
The vast majority of screws operating in North America are single flighted designs with a barrier melting section and a downstream Maddock-style mixer. The most common flaws include flight radii in the metering channels that are too small, and improperly designed flutes on Maddock mixers.4 If the design of the screw is proper, the incumbent resin effect will not occur.
The most common defect on screws built for PE resins is the size of the flight radii. Most screw manufacturers design screws with flight radii that are about half of the depth of the local channel. In many cases the size of the flight radii are even smaller. Figure 1b) shows the flight radius (left side radius) for an improperly designed screw for PE resins. Channels with small radii can cause regions where the residence time is extremely long, leading to resin degradation.
A photograph of resin degradation due to small flight radii is shown in Figure 1a). The degradation at small flight radii are caused by long residence times due to the formation of secondary re-circulation flows known as Moffat eddies.5 Flight radii that are large, such as the radius shown on the right radius in Figure 1b), will not allow Moffat eddies to form, eliminating degradation at this location.
As a general design rule, barrier flighted melting sections are best for screws with barrel diameters greater than 70 mm. If a barrier section is designed into smaller diameter screws, the advantages of higher melting rates are sometimes not obtained, and there is a high risk of the barrier section not functioning properly. For these small-diameter screws, the entry to the barrier section can become restrictive, limiting the specific rate of the extruder and causing resin degradation and gels.2,6 Although small-diameter screws can be designed successfully with barrier melting sections, the low-risk design would use just a simple single-flighted transition section.
Maddock-style mixers7-9 are designed into most screws for PE extrusion processes. Their widespread use is due to their low cost to build, simplicity of the design, and their ability to trap, melt, and disperse solid polymer fragments from incomplete melting. They work by dividing the flow into two to eight different inflow flutes (depending on the diameter of the screw), passing the flow across a dispersive mixing flight, collecting the flow in the outflow flutes, and then recombining the flow for the downstream sections of the screw. Many innovations have occurred to the mixer since it was first described. One of the innovations was to increase the depth of the flute channels to mitigate pressure consumption and energy dissipation. If the flutes are made too deep, however, resin can become stagnte at the root and lead to resin degradation and gels.
Photographs of two spiral Maddock mixer designs are shown in Figure 2. The mixer in Figure 2a) is poorly designed with the depth of the flutes being too large, creating flutes that will cause resin to stagnate and degrade. Degraded resin is observed in this mixer as black hard material. The mixer in Figure 2b) is much better, with the depth of the flute set at half the width of the flute.
The incumbent resin effect, where degraded resin appears in the film product almost immediately after switching to a challenger resin, is created by two problems: 1) defects in the screw design that allow resin to stagnate and degrade, and 2) concluding that the challenger resin is the source of the degradation, even though not enough time has elapsed to create degradation gels from the challenger resin.
There are two technical solutions to mitigate the incumbent effect for PE resins. The first and long-term solution is to design a new screw that does not contain regions where the resin flow will stagnate. This means that all channels must be filled and pressurized, flight radii must be large enough in the liquid-filled sections of the screw to eliminate Moffat eddies, and mixers must be streamlined such that stagnant regions do not exist. Designing and building a new screw will take six weeks or more for delivery. The new and properly designed screw will allow a nearly gel-free product.
The second and short-term technical solution is to remove and clean the existing screw before the challenger resin is introduced to the extruder. For this solution, the extruder may operate without producing degradation products for several hours. After this induction period, the degradation products that are formed may be stable and attached to the screw, causing only a low and manageable level of gels. This gel level would be essentially equivalent to the level produced by the incumbent resin.
Screws with the defects described in this paper will typically require very long times to have an acceptable purging. That is, the degraded materials at the flight radii or deep in the flutes of a Maddock mixer are difficult to remove using purge materials. Moreover, once the majority of the degradation is removed, the stagnant region is now filled with a combination of the purge material and the old degraded resin.
If purge times seem excessive, it is recommended that the screw be removed and studied for degradation. For this procedure, the pellet flow to the hopper is stopped while screw rotation is continued. The screw is rotated until resin flow out of the die stops. Next, screw rotation is stopped and the transfer line is removed from the discharge end of the extruder. The hot screw should be pushed out about three diameters and then photographed and studied for indications of degradation. The metal surfaces should appear clean with only mild discoloration. If a stagnant region exits, then dark colored, degraded material will occupy the space. Once the segment is studied, the hot resin should be removed from the screw using brass tools. Another three diameters are then pushed out and the process is repeated.
Poorly designed sections downstream from the screw can also cause resin to stagnate. These sections include poorly designed transfer lines, screen packs, and dies.
The incumbent resin effect is described where a poorly designed screw for a single-screw extruder is operating stably with a manageable level of degradation gels in the PE film product. The degradation gels are formed in stagnant regions of the screw, but tend to stay adhered to the screw. When the extruder is switched to a challenger resin, slight process changes cause the degraded resin from the incumbent resin to separate from the screw, contaminating the film product. In many cases, the challenger resin is identified as the root cause of the problem rather than the poorly designed screw.
1. T.I. Butler, "Gel Troubleshooting," in Film Extrusion Manual, Chapter 19, Edited by T.I. Butler, TAPPI Press, Atlanta, Georgia, 2005.
2. G.A. Campbell and M.A. Spalding, Analyzing and Troubleshooting Single-Screw Extruders, Hanser Publications, Munich, 2013.
3. M.A. Spalding, E. Garcia-Meitin, S.L. Kodjie, and G.A. Campbell, SPE ANTEC Tech. Papers, 59, 1205 (2013).
4. M.A. Spalding, Plast. Eng., 71 (9), 32 (2015).
5. H.K. Moffat, J. Fluid Mech. 18, 1 (1964).
6. K.S. Hyun, M.A. Spalding, and J. Powers, SPE ANTEC Tech. Papers, 41, 293 (1995).
7. G. LeRoy, US Patent 3,486,192 (1969).
8. R.B. Gregory, U.S. Patent 3,788,614 (1974).
9. P. Andersen, C-K Shih, M.A. Spalding, M.D. Wetzel, and T.W. Womer, SPE ANTEC Tech. Papers, 55, 668 (2009).


text:
Times OC
Name: Blake Rose
Birthplace: Lynwood
How long have you lived in Huntington Beach? 10 years
Occupation: personal financial planner
Education: bachelor's degree from Cal State Fullerton, associate's degree from Orange Coast College, Certified Financial Planner
Previously elected or appointed positions: Measure C Citizens Oversight Board for Coastline Community College District
Community organizations you belong to: Orange County Taxpayers Assn., Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce
What do you think are the biggest issues facing Huntington Beach right now? managing the budget properly, infrastructure management, intelligent development, protection of the environment
What is one decision in the last year that the City Council got right and why would you have supported it?
Creating Surf City Nights. I think it is a fun event for everyone and creates great business opportunities for downtown businesses.
What is one decision in the last year the City Council got wrong, or partially wrong, and why would you have voted differently?
I think they agreed to pay too much money and give to generous benefits to several government employee groups at the expense of many other necessities in the city that would benefit all of our citizens.
Report calls on area cities to create more housing to ease county shortage
The county overall faces a current housing deficit of about 58,000 units, according to the Orange County Business Council.
F.V. police arrest 4 on suspicion of trying to sell narcotics and rifle
Fountain Valley police on Monday arrested three men and a juvenile, all from Anaheim, who are suspected of trying to sell a semiautomatic rifle and narcotics to undercover detectives.
With public art master plan pending, Huntington Beach council moves to dissolve art board
City staff anticipates presenting the draft public art master plan in six months to collect feedback.
The low-key Taorminas channeled their success in business into helping the homeless
On a night during one of the coldest Orange County winters in recent memory, activists and concerned residents crammed into the Anaheim City Council chambers for a special meeting.
Costa Mesa woman known for her fight to authenticate a possible Jackson Pollock painting dies without selling it
Teri Horton, a Costa Mesa resident who gained worldwide notoriety for her long quest to authenticate and sell a painting that some believe is an original Jackson Pollock work, died last week at age 86.
Huntington Beach man identified as swimmer who died after being lifted from water off Laguna
A swimmer who died Sunday night after rescuers found him off Table Rock Beach in South Laguna has been identified as a 27-year-old Huntington Beach man, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.
Farm workers come to life through O.C. Fair's featured artist
Toiling in the fields is in Narsiso Martinez's bones.
Girl Scouts show state parks some love at Crystal Cove event
Nearly 150 Orange County Girl Scouts of all ages turned out with their families to Pelican Point in Crystal Cove State Park on Sunday as part of the first nationwide Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend.
Missing Huntington Beach woman and dog found alive; she says she fled man with a knife
A Huntington Beach woman and her dog were found alive Monday after being lost for about 72 hours in the wilderness near Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, according to the Inyo County Sheriff's Office.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home Analyses A PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGE
A PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGE
By Harlan Ullman
With the emergence of Mitt Romney as the presumptive Republican nominee, the presidential campaign should enter a serious phase given the gravitas of the issues. Yet the sorry state of American politics means that the chances of a meaningful debate over these difficult and indeed potentially intractable issues confronting the nation are not good. That said, what should form an agenda for both candidates if there were to be a candid exchange of views and presentation of specific policies and plans to address these issues?
First and most importantly, Governor Romney and President Barack Obama need to explain to the public how each plans to lead a government that is badly broken. Whoever wins in November will face a politically and bitterly divided Congress. And even if one party wins control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, a super majority of 60 votes in the Senate required to guarantee passage of legislation will not be achieved perpetuating gridlock and stalemate on Capitol Hill.
Second, neither party has produced real as opposed to superficial, propagandistic and rhetoric solutions to the major issues that will determine the nation's future. We know what these issues are. At home, tax and entitlement reform beg for action. The nation's infrastructure is in desperate need of repair. And our educational system is failing underscored by the startling fact that America spends more on its prisons than on teaching its youth.
Third, if one possessed a magic wand, where could it be most effectively waved abroad? Three perennials, if remediated, would transform international politics for the better. Perhaps missions impossible, resolution of the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian; Indo-Pakistani; and China-Taiwan crises would, as Henry Kissinger famously wrote five and a half decades ago, truly lead to "a world restored."
So Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney, please tell us how you would respond to these presidential challenges. Regarding a philosophy of government, the Obama administration has relied on a combination of executive orders and re-writing regulations as a surrogate for legislation. It also has tried to bypass Congress in part to blame Republicans for failure to govern.
Governor Romney has been silent to date on his governing philosophy beyond reducing the size and spending habits of government and its regulations; relying on markets for growth and job creation; and has made no comment on how a Romney administration will work or not with Congress. Sadly, and even with the prospect of several presidential debates this Fall, this is one challenge that is unlikely to be met. Yet, no answers to any question may be more important for the public than this one.
For all the talk of tax and entitlement reform, specific plans are missing in action. Mr. Obama goes only as far as calling for the "Buffett rule" in which the top "1%" of wage earners would pay a tax rate equal to his or her secretary. This is preposterous. If the President wanted real tax reform, then the issue would be adjusting capital gains rates that are now 15% and establishing a progressive or sliding scale.
Mr. Romney argues for the Ryan Budget Plan put forward by Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan. Unfortunately, the devil is in the detail. And the Ryan Plan is naked when it comes to specifics or any detail.
And neither candidate has even broached how infrastructure and education will be addressed preferably through infrastructure and education "banks" that would generate fees to pay for the programs. This type of thinking is crucial if the nation's ills are to be corrected.
In foreign policy, the three most crucial and intractable issues concerning the Arab-Israeli, Indo-Pakistani and China-Taiwan conflicts have proven impervious to resolution. Ending or eliminating even one of these ongoing conflicts would be as powerful and momentous as the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Obama tried, some would say superficially, to engage in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Mr. Romney promises that if elected, he will brand China as a "currency manipulator," a foolhardy step designed to provoke an unhappy reaction on the part of a nation that holds over a trillion dollars of our debt.
Under Mr. Obama, U.S. relations with Pakistan have deteriorated and show signs of only getting worse. Mr. Romney has been silent on South Asia and probably has not had the time to focus on a region that will become even more unstable as the drawdown in Afghanistan begins and what happens in Iran—-a country that Mr. Romney promises to prevent from obtaining nuclear weapons by using military force—is far from predictable and could be the fuse for igniting a major war.
This week's Economist newspaper featured on its cover what it called "the hardball campaign." Serious and objective debate on the vital issues is essential. Instead, negative campaigning, sound bites and talking points will be poor substitutes masquerading as real presidential challenges.
Harlan Ullman is Chairman of the Killowen Group that advises leaders of government and business and Senior Advisor at Washington DC's Atlantic Council.
blame Republicans
Buffett rule
China-Taiwan crises
emergence of Mitt Romney as the presumptive Republican nominee
Governor Romney
Indo-Pakistani
resolution of the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian
Previous articleMap of Political Distribution in Pakistan 2008
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INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION FIASCO
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I have been working in this Support Center space for over twenty years. For most of my career, I have been involved with HDI. This association first offered me a way to legitimize what I'm doing as a career. It gave me the opportunity to meet others who are in my field and has opened my eyes to all kinds of opportunities and possible career paths. Over the years I have utilized my HDI connections to compare tools, processes, and people management.
I have also appreciated the wealth of information I can find at the HDI website. As trends and technologies have continually changed over the years, HDI is a place to collect all that information that is in White Papers, support articles, etc. for access at any time. The annual Support Center Practices & Salary Report has been a very valuable document for me to utilize over the years as we compare what we are doing to others in our industry.
I have found the HDI Forums to be extremely valuable to me. Since I work in the healthcare industry, I belong to the HDI HealthCare Providers Forum. We meet three times a year, with an agenda that is typically specific to our industry. When I compare the take-aways from these forum meetings to any conference I attend, I continually feel I'm getting the most value for my professional education dollars.
After having been a member of HDI for so long, I feel that I am able to actually give as well as take. While I still go out to my HDI peers and ask questions while I'm trying to come up with new ideas or solve problems, I also feel that I am able to reciprocate with others who are looking for their own answers. It's a win-win!


Silver Dollar Madness – Monarch Coin Corp.
We are running a Silver Dollar promotion that we call Silver Dollar Madness (said in an echo-ey movie trailer voice)! This promotion is available IN STORE ONLY, so hurry in before it's too late.
In store we have two giant, glass pickle jars filled with nice quality silver dollars. These silver dollars were first made 140 years ago in 1878 and ended in 1935.
A complete 94 pc. set of Morgan silver dollars, including the 1893 from San Francisco (look that one up! Hooooo-wee!).
Five (yes, five!) complete 24 pc. sets of Peace dollars, minted during the roaring 20's.
100 (you read that right, one hundred) dollars from the Carson City "CC" Mint.
A roll of 20 1896 silver dollars to celebrate Utah's Statehood.
1888-O Double die obverse "Hot Lips" in fine condition.
1891-CC "Spitting Eagle", which appears to show our National Bird with a tobacco chewing problem.
To end it all with a SHOUT, the person who buys the last dollar in the jars, will receive a GSA 1885-CC dollar valued at $800.00 for FREE!


We may have inacurrate auto service business data. If you are an auto service business member of Action Gator Tires Stores in 100 W Car Care Dr, Saint Cloud, FL 34769, (407) 824-0976 and wish to list or update your business (Action Gator Tires Stores) details, it is FREE for submitting your business (Action Gator Tires Stores) information into our directory. Email to john ( at ) AutoServiceList.com about your request.


text:
sick taunts Lord Mayor Hazel Chu draws a line when racists make remarks about her child
Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu draws a line when racists make remarks about her child.
Neil Fetherstonhaugh
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Hazel Chu, has said she draws a line when racists make remarks about her child.
She revealed that she still gets comments every day questioning her Irishness, despite the fact that she was born here, but that when they "come after my family that's a different issue altogether".
Even though she was born at the Rotunda Hospital, Cllr Chu told The Hard Shoulder that there are still people who insist on making her feel different.
"There's a small vocal minority that tells you you are different every day," she said.
"Today it was 'you are a spy from the CCP' and 'no matter how much you try you're never going to be Irish'... yesterday was 'show us your birth cert if you really are Irish'.
"Every day there's something... some kind of comment about whether or not I'm Irish."
She said she receives abusive comments online, by phone and even in the post and admitted that there are some days it does get at her - especially when they focus on her child.
"There was a line about her being a mongrel, and there was a line about being deported back to China to get aborted... that's where I draw the line," she explained. "I have no problem with you coming after me, but when you come after my family that's a different issue altogether."
There are days when she decides to 'drag' the trolls online, while she also has ordered a punchbag to let out some of her emotions.
She said: "That's going to be my therapy... Any way you can to exert some kind of release... it's always good."
Hazel has also reported some of the abusive comments she's received to gardaí, noting the force has been 'very supportive'.
In November, an emergency motion was raised in Dublin City Council condemning racist social media attacks on Cllr Chu.
The all-party motion was called by Cllr Daithí Doolan to raise the issue of horrific abuse directed at the Lord Mayor during the week.
"The racism that Dublin's Lord Mayor Hazel Chu has faced since assuming public office is disgraceful," Sinn Féin Dublin City Councillor Daithí Doolan said. "It is fundamentally wrong and it has to be actively opposed.
"The recent racist tweets targeting An tArd Mheara are a symptom of a deeper racism that needs to be confronted in our society.
"In response to the racist social media attacks on the Lord Mayor all parties on Dublin City Council have put their names to a Sinn Féin motion condemning in the strongest possible terms the racist tweets sent to Cllr Hazel Chu
"I am delighted that all parties have signed up to this motion. We may be from different political parties but we stand shoulder to shoulder against racism."


It's you who are reading this that really make us at Enfo who we are. Whether you are a customer or a potential customer, interested in working here, one of our own employees, or just curious about us in general we welcome you here.
It's because of you and with you that we contribute to our customers' success with digitalized solutions.
You, the customer, want to be more successful and simplify your business in the growing Digital Dimension. You, the employee, want to be spurred to develop sharper solutions. And all of you want a true experience of who we are and what we offer. These, among other things, are what keep us on our toes every single day.
In all our competence areas, we are niched experts who partner for business-boosting solutions in the Digital Dimension.
To increase robustness, we run and optimize significant parts of our customers' operations, improving business reliability with process maturity and automation.
To increase agility, we deliver Cloud Adoption, Integration and Business Intelligence & Analytics projects, enabling organizations to adapt faster to new business demands.
To better manage duality, we provide service integration and management services, including third parties.
That's who we are. Thinking beyond tomorrow, while taking responsibility for today. And that's how we create simpler, smoother, smarter business in the Digital Dimension.
Tell us where you are. We'll show you where you're going.


Make sure you're ready for each of these questions by reviewing our notes on what the hiring manager is looking for, the mistakes to avoid, and example answers that will impress the employer.
These are the top interview questions you should be ready to answer, with word-for-word examples for each answer along with do's and dont's.
Practice and get comfortable with these questions and answer examples before your interview and you'll feel more confident, while giving much better answers.
This is one of the most common questions to practice for. You're very likely to hear it in an early-stage interview, especially a phone interview.
In the sample answers below, you'll see that the goal is to show them you've done your research and didn't apply to their company without knowing anything about them.
If you don't seem like you know anything about them, you'll come across as desperate – somebody who will take any job they can find. And that's going to make you unattractive to any good employers out there.
So when they ask, "what do you know about our company?", your primary goal is to show you've done your research or knew about their company before applying. If you do this, you'll be fine.
Try to have some sense of their company size. Are they 100 employees? More than 10,000 employees?
When they ask "how did you hear about the position?", the interviewer just wants to know if you've taken the time to research the company and if you have a genuine reason for wanting to talk with them. Mention a product, a mission statement on the website, a reputation for talented employees, or whatever else seems applicable to that specific company. Come up with a great reason. Don't make it seem like they're just one company among many. Or that you're sending your resume out to them for no particular reason other than wanting a job.
This is one of the simplest question and answer scenarios in any interview, but that doesn't mean it can't ruin your chances at the job if you answer incorrectly.
Tell the truth unless it's something very embarrassing (for example, when I was much younger, my Mother actually found me a job to apply to. That does *not* sound great, so I told them a friend saw the job posting and mentioned it to me. A white-lie is okay but only when needed).
When they ask "why did you apply for this position?", pick something specific that interested you. If you say you love their products, tell them why. That's the key to giving a convincing answer for this job interview question.
Stay away from sounding like you're desperate, or that you want just any job. Yes, if you were laid off it's okay to say that, but then re-focus the conversation on exactly what you're looking for in the next opportunity and why you feel their company might have it.
You need to sound like you want the RIGHT job and that you're being picky. Companies want the best performers, and the best performers are picky in their job hunt. Stay away from negatives and complaints too. Don't bad-mouth your current company or boss. Focus on the positives of the company you're interviewing with.
Phrase everything as a positive. Don't badmouth your current situation, just talk about what you hope to gain by coming to work for them (experiences, challenges, opportunities).
4. Why are you looking to leave your current company?
Now, not everyone is job searching while employed, but if you are – this is one of the most important interview questions and answers to know.
The most important thing when they ask why you are looking to leave your current job is to stay positive and never badmouth.
How do you sound positive? Rather than complaining or talking badly about your current situation, say that you're looking for more of something.
Is your current boss a jerk ? Say that you're looking for an environment with more leadership you can learn from.
Sound like you're ambitious, motivated, and eager to find the next challenge in your career.
Focus on a specific work-related challenge and talk about how you overcame obstacles, used it as a learning experience, used the resources around you (including people/colleagues if applicable), and ended up with a positive result! That's how to answer this interview question. Keep it work related, not personal.
Share the outcome. What was the result?
Share what you learned from the experience. Did you take away knowledge that has helped you in your career?
6. How much money are you looking to earn?
DON'T say a number. Why? you have the least amount of leverage possible at this point, assuming you're early in the interview process. You haven't finished interviewing with them, they don't know if you're any good or if they even want to hire you. So you can't command a high salary right now. If you go too low with your price, they'll hold you to it later. Go too high? You'll scare them off before they even know what you're worth!
It's a lose-lose. Don't do it. So remember… when you're preparing what to say in a job interview, especially an early stage interview, salary goals should not be a part of it!
Stand your ground and tell them you don't have a number in mind yet, or aren't sure.
Repeat this multiple times if needed (if they pressure you or "push back" after your first response).
If you don't ask good questions to each person you speak with, you are very unlikely to get hired.
You can ask about the work, the training, the challenges you'd face, the overall direction of the company.
Don't ask about salary, benefits, time off, or anything that isn't related to the work. Wait for them to bring it up, or until you know they want to offer you the position.
FYI here are the 105 best questions to ask the interviewer.
Try to talk about them and how you'll help them. What will be better for them if they hire you? What will you improve for them?
And show you've done your research. Make it clear that you know what this position involves, and you're ready to perform the tasks.
Give a generic answer that'd fit any company. You really need to "tailor" this to the specific duties you'll be performing in THIS specific job. Otherwise your answer will not impress them.
"I read on the job description that you're looking for someone with experience in ____. I've done that for 3 years and can immediately help you accomplish ____".
Show them that you know what that their job involves (at least as much as you could learn from the job description and company website), and that you're excited to be interviewing for this position.
Say, "I just need a job".
Keep it professional when answering the question of "tell me about yourself". You don't need to share personal details.
To answer, walk them through your background, starting at how you began your career or your current line of work. Take them through key accomplishments, key career moves you've made, and end by sharing what you're looking to do next in your career and why you're job hunting.
If you chose to leave on your own terms, stay positive and focus on what you wanted to gain from the decision, rather than bad-mouthing or focusing on negatives you wanted to avoid.
And if you were fired or laid off, be upfront and clear. You're not going to make employers want to hire you by being vague or trying to hide something.
If you got fired, show what you've learned from the experience, and what you've done to make sure this doesn't happen again. That's how to spin it into a positive.
When they ask, "what's your greatest weakness?" , you want to name a real weakness.
I highly recommend picking something skill-based, not personality-based.
You never want to say you struggle working with others, or you're bad at resolving disagreements, or taking direction from a manager, etc. Those things will get you rejected in the interview.
So pick a specific skill, but pick something that won't severely impact your ability to do this job.
For example if the job involves data entry with Excel spreadsheets all day, you do not want to say Excel is your weakness. Or that you struggle paying attention to details.
Finally, end your answer by explaining what you're doing to overcome or improve your weakness.
Take a look at the do's and don'ts, and the interview answer example below, to get a sense of what your answer might sound like.
So, pick a work-related goal of where you'd like to be 5 years from now, and make sure it's slightly challenging or ambitious-sounding.
And make sure to share a goal that is related to the type of job you're interviewing for. You want to sound like the experience you'll gain in this job fits your long-term goals.
Otherwise they're going to be scared to hire you. Why would they offer you the job if it doesn't fit the goals you described to them? You'd be unsatisfied, bored, and would probably quit within the first year. No company wants this.
This is a common interview question that employers ask to see if you're able to learn from mistakes and bounce back when things don't go your way.
They always want to see if you can own-up to it and be accountable and actually admit to your failures.
Give a long-winded answer that goes off-track. You really need to be concise and show you can tell a clear story. That's one more thing employers look for when they ask this interview question.


text:
Asia-Pacific, Economy & Trade, Featured, Global Geopolitics, Global Governance, Headlines, North America, TerraViva United Nations | Analysis
U.S. Still Playing Catch-up in Asia
By John Feffer Reprint | | Print |
WASHINGTON, Dec 10 2013 (IPS) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden wrapped up his finger-wagging tour of Asia on Friday, with a busy week of lecturing the Chinese, trying to get the South Koreans and Japanese to play nice with one another, and damning North Korea with faint praise for releasing an 85-year-old American after more than a month of detention.
Aside from a couple of verbal gaffes, his performance elicited generally passing marks at home and abroad. But Biden's effort did little to reverse the fundamental reality that the U.S. role in the region has dwindled over the last decade, despite recent efforts to reverse the trend.
The United States has long billed its presence in Asia as one of an "honest broker". More recently, the Obama administration has tried to underscore U.S. interests in the region through its "Pacific pivot", away from the roiling conflicts of the Middle East and toward the economic opportunities of the East.
""The 'pivot' seems to reflect a desire to maintain things as they have been. I don't see anything new in it."
-- Patrick Smith
U.S. policy, however, has been slow to pivot. Continued turmoil in Syria, nuclear negotiations with Iran, and a raft of domestic challenges have absorbed Washington's attention. Biden's trip was an effort to bolster U.S. commitment to Asia after President Obama cancelled his trip to the region in October because of the U.S. government shutdown. The vice president, definitely not an Asia hand, was an unusual choice for emissary.
"Politicians always make a virtue of sheer circumstance," observed Patrick Smith, a longtime correspondent in Asia and the author most recently of "Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century". "Biden, we were told, was the right technology for this trip."
"But Biden has no experience in Asia. He was the wrong guy in the wrong place," Smith continued. "It underscored…that we just can't keep up with events any more. I've seen this problem with pace coming for years, and now it's here: China, Iran, Syria. We're running to catch up."
Biden's mission was not just handicapped by his lack of deep regional knowledge. Instead of a bold effort to stay ahead of the curve, the Biden trip became an exercise in damage control when China announced a new Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) shortly before he set out.
The newly expanded zone includes a set of islands that Beijing and Tokyo contest – Diaoyu in Chinese, Senkaku in Japanese – and which Tokyo currently controls. It also covers a submerged rock that South Korea uses as a tiny maritime research station.
The United States responded to China's unilateral announcement by sending two unarmed B-52 fighter jets to fly through the zone without advance notification. Japan instructed its commercial airlines to ignore the demand to notify Chinese authorities of their flight paths through the zone. South Korea most recently has responded with its own slightly expanded ADIZ to encompass the submerged rock.
In Beijing, Biden pushed the Chinese to back off from applying its new rules to disputed parts of the zone, and the Chinese reiterated their own sovereign right to do what other countries have already done.
So the vice president was left to repeat his own diplomatic boilerplate about the importance of cooperation over competition, saying in an interview with a South Korean newspaper, "Economically, diplomatically, militarily, we have been, we are, and we will remain a resident Pacific power."
The past history of involvement and present alliance commitments certainly bind the United States to the region. Even if current tensions have more to do with simmering tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, Washington necessarily finds itself in the middle, leaning geopolitically toward Japan and geoeconomically toward China.
"My sense is that Washington will have to play a significant role," argued Sheila Smith, a senior fellow for Japanese studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. "Two of the players, Japan and South Korea, are our allies. Crisis management will involve us – even if we are unprepared."
The pivot to Asia was touted as a way for the United States to check rising Chinese influence, recommit to allies in the region, and tap into Asian economic success through trade and investment deals.
But Patrick Smith considered the pivot a "figment." He explained that "if the thought now is to play the role in the region that we already played, that's a reiteration and no more." Rather than a set of new initiatives, the new policy is an effort to maintain the status quo. "The 'pivot' seems to reflect a desire to maintain things as they have been. I don't see anything new in it," he concluded.
Related IPS Articles
Positive Signals Between Iran and U.S. Intensifying
U.S., China Woo Caribbean "Friends" Just Days Apart
U.S. Pivot Heightens Asian Disputes
Figment or fact, the "pivot" has not been an easy manoeuvre for the United States to execute. The Obama administration has been rearranging military forces in the region, sending Marines to a new base in Australia, expanding facilities in Guam, and negotiating new access agreements with the Philippines and Vietnam.
But local resistance has prevented the construction of a new military based to replace the facility in Futenma, Okinawa, and budget constraints at home make a significant increase in Pacific military presence unlikely.
Meanwhile, Japan has continued to develop its own more assertive foreign and military policy, most recently proposing to overturn its decades-old ban on weapons exports. Tokyo and Seoul have descended into a deep freeze in relations, with friction over their own disputed islands as well as Japan's contrition – or lack of it — regarding its World War II actions in the peninsula. Further south, China and a number of countries spar over the South China Sea and the resources beneath the waves.
And Washington's prospects for concluding a trade deal, the Trans Pacific Partnership, are not especially bright either. Opposition is fierce in some participating countries, such as Japan, and it will be very difficult for negotiators to meet the end-of-year deadline for the treaty's text. Nor is the enthusiasm level in Congress particularly high.
Now that Biden is back in Washington, Asia is once again out of the U.S. headlines. Obama is heading to South Africa for Nelson Mandela's funeral, the war in Syria grinds on, congressional opposition to the agreement with Iran continues to simmer, and the demonstrations in Ukraine are expanding. The territorial conflicts in East Asia haven't disappeared. But the United States must attend to priorities other than its much-vaunted pivot.


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Collected by Martha hecker
Cafe Martinho da Arcada
Praça do Comércio 3, 1100-148 Lisboa, Portugal
Martinho da Arcada is a Lisbon legend. Thanks to a friend's recommendation, I passed through it just to experience the phenomenon and look inside. The cafe was founded in 1778 as Café do Gelo (the Ice Cafe) and mostly sold beverages and ice. After...
A Brasileira
Open since 1905, A Brasileira was once the choice of Fernando Pessoa, the great Portuguese poet. You can sit beside him just outside, next to his bronze statue. Back in the day, this place was a hangout for writers, artists, and journalists. The...
Photo By Rita Alves
Av. Guerra Junqueiro 30 C, 1000-167 Lisboa, Portugal
This historic pastry shop is full of art, like the ceramic panel with polychrome tiles by Querubim Lapa, a mural painting by João Câmara Leme, and other works by Mário Costa. When it was founded in 1946, Mexicana was a confectionary and dairy,...
Pastelaria Suiça
Praça Dom Pedro IV 96 a 104, 1100-202 Lisboa, Portugal
This pastry shop brings me back to my childhood. When my father and brother would go to see Benfica (one of the most important football teams in Portugal), my mother and I would come here to have an ice cream or a cake. Who can resist sitting in...
Pastelaria Bénard
R. Garrett 104, 1200-205 Lisboa, Portugal
This historic pastry shop was founded in 1868 as an aristocratic teahouse, one of the few public places where women could go without the company of men. Inside is a room that serves as a restaurant, but this shop is more known for its delicious...
Bom Jesus, 4715 Braga
Estrada do Bom Jesus, 4715-056 Tenões, Portugal
Only the a local would have known to take us to Bom Jesus. While staying with a host through Airbnb, two friends and I had the opportunity to spend the day with her and explore Braga. She told us, in her broken but sufficient English, of a church...
Praça do Império 1400-206 Lisboa, 1400-206 Lisboa, Portugal
The churches in Portugal are uniquely beautiful in a way that is is ornate but not flashy or gilded. The Manueline style of architecture used to build the St. Jeronimos Monastery was a transitional style that combined Renaissance and Gothic...
Photo by Luis Santos / age fotostock
Carmo Convent
Largo do Carmo, 1200-092 Lisboa, Portugal
In 1755, Lisbon was all but devoured by an earthquake so strong that it still ranks as one of the most destructive in recorded history. One of the few structures to survive somewhat intact was the Carmo Convent—an impressive feat,...
Photo by Pauliana V
Cantina Lx
R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-501 Lisboa, Portugal
Cantina LX's space is charmingly raw—you might witness a crumble or two of the cement walls—but it's the spot for almofadinhas de bacalhau, a traditional Portuguese dish of fried salted cod. Communal tables filled with Lisbonites mean you won't...
BI+CA
R. Rodrigues de Faria 97, 1300-501 Lisboa, Portugal
BI+CA is located on an old factory complex named nowadays as LX Factory. It's a sandwich café and a rent-a-bike, however besides renting bikes they also sell them. The name bica is also the name that the Lisboans give to the coffee. The space has...
Photo courtesy of Diário de Lisboa
Muito Muito
Design shop Muito Muito (loose translation: lots) sells salvaged furniture, midcentury lamps, and weathered doors with decades of swinging behind them. Despite its vastness, the selection still feels well pruned. 351/9-3213-8002 This appeared in...
Photo courtesy of Galeria Zé Dos Bois
Galeria Zé Dos Bois
2600 Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal
"We always visit Galeria Zé Dos Bois when we're in town. It's a nonprofit gallery, bar, cinema, and home for artists-in-residence." —Martin Courtney, lead singer of Real Estate (touring Europe now) Rua da Barroca 59 This appeared in the June/July...
Photo courtesy of Lapo
Lapo
Make an appointment to see artist Lapo's workroom on the factory's third floor. Her wry illustrations of pedestrian scenes—like people commuting or playing ping-pong—are souvenirs friends back home will actually want. 351/2-1364-9072 This appeared...
Photo by Kaputt!
Ler Devagar
1300, R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-553 Lisboa, Portugal
Ler Devagar, a former newspaper plant, built its floor-to-ceiling bookcases around an enormous retired printing press. The bookstore also houses a café that turns into a bar for the literati at dusk. 351/2-1325-9992 This appeared in the June/July...
Photo courtesy of Moinho de Pedra
Moinho de Pedra
9880 Almas, Portugal
Stay in one of the historic properties that have been converted into bed-and-breakfasts on the islands. Options include Moinho de Pedra (shown), a stone windmill on Graciosa Island, and Pico do Refúgio, a 400-year-old mansion in the shadow of...
Terra Nostra Garden Hotel
Rua Padre José Jacinto Botelho, 5, 9675-061 Furnas, S. Miguel - Açores, Portugal
The Thermal Water Pool of Terra Nostra Park is without doubt a highlight of the Azores. Built in 1780, by Thomas Hickling, the American consul who had the original idea for Terra Nostra Park, the Thermal Water Pool began to form part of the...
São Miguel Island, Portugal
Santa Bárbara beach, on the north coast of São Miguel Island, is known by the local surfers as one of the best spots to surf – mainly because of the waves and perfect surfing conditions. Also known as Areais, it is an excellent beach break with...
Overlooking Porto
703, Rua da Boavista, 4050-110 Porto, Portugal
I thought Lisbon was the most beautiful city in Portugal, till I got to Porto. If you are looking for a weekend destination in Europe, Porto is a great option. It had all the right ingredients for a perfect long weekend or a short vacation in...
São Bento Train Station
Praça Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal
Might be one of the most beautiful train stations in the World, Sao Bento Railway Station was opened to the public in 1916 and is well known for its walls covered with 20,000 splendid azulejo ceramic tiles which describe the History of Portugal....
Hotel B&B Porto Centro
B & B hotel is a great alternative for the budget traveler. The hotel, which was opened in the end of 2011, is located right in the city center in an Art Déco building that used to be cinema "Águia d'Ouro". The hotel has stylishly furnished rooms...
Praça de Gomes Teixeira
Praça de Gomes Teixeira, 4050 Porto, Portugal
This might be one of the nicest squares in the Carmo district of Porto. The square with the fountain of lions. It got its name on 1936 in honor of Francisco Gomes Teixeira, a well known professor in the University of Porto. Around the square there...
Ribeira Square
The Ribeira stands for 'Riverside' in Portuguese. and it is a historical square along the Douro river. It is crowded with restaurants, cafe's, touristic stores and touristic attractions. The buildings, which these days are half occupied, half...
Miss Opo
Rua dos Caldeireiros 261, 4050-142 Porto, Portugal
This is a great spot for a Weekend brunch, especially if it is raining outside. (At least that what happened to me). I loved the contrast between the raw grey industrial walls and the warm chocolate-colored wood furniture and the green plants. The...
Galerias de Paris
R. da Galeria de Paris 67, 4050-284 Porto, Portugal
A cute restaurant in one of the nicest streets in Porto, Rua da Galeria de Paris, named after the street. The restaurant is quite low key, buffet style. You just need to grab a plate and choose your dish from a selection over the counter....
Photo courtesy of Associacao de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR
See our full list of Where to Go in 2015. Strasbourg-based CroisiEurope was founded in 1976 and is one of Europe's largest river cruise specialists, running trips along the Rhine, the Rhône, the Seine, the Danube, and more. The company is...
Photo courtesy of RCL-RuiCunha
See our full list of Where to Go in 2015. Viking Cruises, established in 1997, specializes in river cruises in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Southeast Asia, and China. In 2014 the company unveiled two new ships that were specially designed to sail the...
Douro, 3260 Figueiró dos Vinhos, Portugal
I have visited Napa and Sonoma, and have been to Tuscany, and Bordeaux, but no wine region of the world has surprised me with its beauty as much as the Douro. If your find yourself in Porto, it is well worth renting a car (or better yet, hiring a...
Photo by Oliver Strewe/Lonely Planet Images
At the mouth of the Douro River, the medieval city of Porto, Portugal, is undergoing an architectural renaissance. Old World icons, such as the baroque Torre dos Clérigos bell tower that helped the city earn UNESCO status in 1996, contrast with...
Douro River
Porto is one of the most beautiful cities I've had the pleasure to visit. The city is packed with cultural attractions—many of them listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The port wine cellars, Oporto Cathedral, Clérigos Church Tower, and...
Photo courtesy of Maison des Rêves Romaneira.
Q.ta da Romaneira, 5070 Alijó, Portugal
Set amid terraced vineyards along the banks of the Douro River, the guest rooms at the Romaneira have no phones, TVs, or cell reception. Visitors spend their days hiking the 1,000-acre property, drinking the region's famous port wines, and...


text:
Shareholder Alert: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Announces Securities Fraud Class Action Lawsuit Against Raytheon Technologies Corporation f/k/a Raytheon Company
RADNOR, Pa., Nov. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP alerts investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Raytheon Technologies Corporation f/k/a Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTX, RTN) ("Raytheon") on behalf of those who purchased or otherwise acquired Raytheon securities between February 10, 2016 and October 27, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period").
Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Raytheon securitiesduring the Class Period may, no later than December 29, 2020, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation please click https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/raytheon-technologies-corporation?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=raytheon.
According to the complaint, Raytheon is an aerospace and defense company providing advanced systems and services for commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. On April 3, 2020, United Technologies Corporation and Raytheon Company completed a merger and changed "Raytheon Company" to "Raytheon Technologies Corporation."
The Class Period commences on February 10, 2016, when Raytheon Company published its annual report on a Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which stated in relevant part, "we maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded and that transactions are properly executed and recorded. The system includes policies and procedures, internal audits and our officers' reviews."
Concerns regarding Raytheon's financial accounting and internal controls over financial reporting were revealed after market hours on October 27, 2020, when Raytheon filed its quarterly report on a Form 10-Q with the SEC for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The Form 10-Q reported that "[o]n October 8, 2020, [Raytheon] received a criminal subpoena from the [U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ")] seeking information and documents in connection with an investigation relating to financial accounting, internal controls over financial reporting, and cost reporting regarding Raytheon Company's Missiles & Defense business since 2009."
Following this news, the price of Raytheon shares fell $4.19 per share, or 7%, to close at $52.34 per share on October 28, 2020.
The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Raytheon had inadequate disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; (2) Raytheon had faulty financial accounting; (3) as a result, Raytheon misreported its costs regarding Raytheon Company's Missiles & Defense business since 2009; (4) as a result of the foregoing, Raytheon was at risk of increased scrutiny from the government; (5) as a result of the foregoing, Raytheon would face a criminal investigation by the DOJ; and (6) as a result, the defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.
If you wish to discuss this securities fraud class action lawsuit or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests with respect to this litigation, please contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check (James Maro, Jr., Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (844) 877-9500 (toll free) or (610) 667–7706, or via e-mail at info@ktmc.com.
Raytheon investors who wish to discuss this securities fraud class action lawsuit and their legal options are encouraged to contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (James Maro, Jr., Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (844) 877-9500 (toll free) or at info@ktmc.com.
Raytheon investors may, no later than December 29, 2020, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, please visit www.ktmc.com.
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
Adrienne Bell, Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
info@ktmc.com
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-alert--kessler-topaz-meltzer--check-llp-announces-securities-fraud-class-action-lawsuit-against-raytheon-technologies-corporation-fka-raytheon-company-301180731.html
SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
The Klein Law Firm Reminds Investors of Class Actions on Behalf of Shareholders of RTX, ZSAN and BIIB
Yahoo 12/03 06:30 ET
SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of Raytheon Technologies Corporation - RTX
PR Newswire 12/03 05:25 ET
SHAREHOLDER ALERT BY FORMER LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL: KSF REMINDS FAF, RTX, TRQ INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits
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LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST RTX, YY and PINS - Jakubowitz Law Pursues Shareholders Claims
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Reminds Investors That Class Action Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against Raytheon, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Neovasc and Interface and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm
DEADLINE REMINDER: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Announces Deadline in Securities Fraud Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Raytheon Technologies Corporation f/k/a Raytheon Company
Raytheon Technologies (RTX) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know
The Gross Law Firm Announces Class Actions on Behalf of Shareholders of LOOP, RTX and YY
SHAREHOLDER DEADLINE ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Lawsuit Against Raytheon Technologies Corporation and Encourages Investors with Losses in Excess of $750,000 to Contact the Firm
Aerospace and Defense Stocks Poised for Takeoff


The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) is one of Japan's most popular winter festivals. It takes place for an entire week, and CMOM will have its own Japanese Snow Festival. Take part in ice and snow inspired programs, and experience performances and workshops.
During the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan many of the ice and snow sculptures incorporate color through lighting and projections. In this workshop we will color ice through chemical reactions to create ice paintings and real ice cream!
Kamishibai is a traditional form of Japanese storytelling. Join CMOM educators for an interactive telling of traditional and modern kawaii-inspired stories.
The Sapporo Snow Festival started when high schoolers made snowmen along a park in 1950. Create your own snow sculpture using snowballs that won't melt and explore the variety of snow and ice sculptures exhibited during the 2018 Snow Festival in Japan.
The Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center preserves, teaches, and promotes various styles of taiko (Japanese drumming) and shares elements of Japanese music and culture through this drumming performance.
Presented in collaboration with the Center for Traditional Music and Dance.
Use a variety of Origami techniques to create snowflakes and create icicles with beads to turn our classroom into a winter wonderland.
Japanese cuisine expert, Misako Sassa of the Japanese Culinary Studio NYC shares techniques to create cute and expressive yukidaruma musubi (snowman rice balls)!
During the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan many of the ice and snow sculptures incorporate color through lighting and projections. Learn more about the science of optics and projections to create your very own 3D hologram display that can be used with any smartphone!
Sachiyo Ito and Company will present exquisitely beautiful and elegant Japanese classical dances from the 19th century, and a work choreographed by Sachiyo Ito. Sachiyo Ito and Company is dedicated to creating a bridge between the US and Japan through artistic performances and educational programs.
Okamoto Studio is a New York-based collective best known for their design, production, and consultation of everything made of crystal clear ice. Artists from Okamoto Studio will share techniques for creating real ice sculptures.
**Due to limited space, this free event requires tickets for entry. Pick up your tickets in the lobby one hour before the event.


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Tibet Post International
Dr Lobsang Sangay, the President of the Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI file
Representative Sonam Frasi with Guri Melby MP and representatives of the Uyghur and Hong Kong Support Committees, in the Norwegian Parliament, Oslo, the Capital of Norway, on January 15, 2020. Photo/Namgyal T. Svenningsen/NTC
China's Global Threat to Human Rights. Photo: HRW
A photo was recently taken in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet clearly shows, China's occupation of Tibet aimed at the elimination of Tibetan national language and identity. Photo: File
Information Secretary of DIIR, Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, in Dharamshala, India, May 3, 2019. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen secured 57 percent of the popular vote with a record-breaking 8.2 million ballots, 1.3 million more than her 2016 victory. Photo: File
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet. Photo: TPI/Yeshe Choesang
The oath-taking ceremony of new Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok at a swearing-in ceremony held at Sikyong auditorium, the Central Tibetan Secretariat, Dharamshala, India, January 10, 2020. Photo: CTA/DIIR
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy held a press conference in Dharamshala, India, on November 26, 019. Photo: TPI/Yangchen Dolma
Tibetan high school students, joined by supporters of all ages marched and chanted through Dharamshala's streets on Friday as part of a globally-coordinated climate movement, in Dharamshala, India, on September 27, 2019. Photo: TPI/Yangchen Dolma
His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his meeting with intellectuals, academics and diplomats at the Taj Hotel in New Delhi, India on September 21, 2019. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Genyen at the Kikisoso Tibet Festival. Photo by Yohei DigEarth Ito
Lithang horse racing festival in 2018. Photo: File
Tibetan arts and culture are kept alive at Sidhpur's Norbulingka Institute in a beautiful setting, Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/Anisha Joneja
Mutton Thukpa, Tibetan noodle in soup. Photo: File
His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his teaching for Mongolians at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on February 28, 2019. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
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Palchen Wangyal was born in Kham Dege, Jodha, eastern Tibet and later escaped from Tibet to India in 1999. Photo: Dawa/TPI
A group of students from the University of Denver in Colorado, U.S.A., was recently on a two week trip to Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/Zach Chrisman
His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Photo: TPI/Yeshe Choesang
Seventy years of the CCP's legitimacy crisis in Tibet. Photo: File
Namgyal Dolkar Lhagyari, President of the Gu-Chu-Sum movement for former Tibetan political prisoners, based in Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI
Tibet is still under totalitarian China's illegal and military occupation. Photo: file
Namgyal Phuntsok, Educational Coordinator of the Rogpa Charitable Trust, based in Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI
Tenzin Chodup, a former the Special Frontier Force (SFF), at his Rewa Cafe in Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/Anisha Joneja
His Holiness speaking on "Love and Compassion - A Way of Life" at the Bihar Judicial Academy in Patna, Bihar, India on January 18, 2020. Photo by Lobsang Tsering
Dr Vinita Sahay, Director of IIM Bodhgaya, thanking His Holiness for his talk at the Indian Institute of Management in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on January 14, 2020. Photo by Lobsang Tsering
His Holiness speaking to members of the press at the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on December 25, 2019. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Jagdeep Dhankar, Governor of West Bengal with President Dr Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Pema Jungney and other esteemed guests in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, on December 26, 2019. Photo: Office of Sikyong
The heads of the three pillars of Tibetan democracy listening to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the long life prayer offering at Gaden Jangtse Monastery in Mundgod, South India, December 22, 2019. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA
President Dr Lobsang Sangay speaking at the 600th Anni of Je Tsongkhapa's Parinirvana celebrations at Gaden Lachi in Mundgod, India on 21/12/2019. Photo by Lobsang Tsering
His Holiness discussing the new Dalai Lama Chair for Nalanda Studies at Goa University with at his hotel in Goa, India on December 11, 2019. Photo by Lobsang Tsering
President Dr Lobsang Sangay addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 14th Tibetan Religious Conference convened at the CTA headquarters in Dharamshala, India, November 27, 2019. Photo: TPI/Yangchen Dolma
Kalon Ven Karma Gelek Yuthok, Department of Religion and Culture, CTA addressing the 14th Tibetan Religious Conference convened at the CTA headquarters, Dharamshala, India, November 27, 2019. Photo: TPI/Yangchen Dolma
The Emblem of Tibet is a symbol of the Tibetan government in exile, combines several elements of the flag of Tibet. Photo: File
A Brief Introduction to the Tibetan Government In-Exile Background In 1949 the People's Liberation Army of China marched into Tibet's northeastern province of Kham and Amdo, thus setting in motion the forcible occupation of the country which culminated in the flight of its young leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama to India and the crushing of the Tibetan National Uprising in March 1959.
Tibet's leader was followed by some 80,000 Tibetans, who sought refuge in India, Nepal and Bhutan. The influx of refugees continues even today. Currently, the Tibetan exile population is over 145,150 of which about 101,242 are based in India. ( Planning Council's projected population in 2007, based on annual percentage growth rate – CTA ).
On April 29, 1959, His Holiness the Dalai Lama established the Tibetan exile administration in the north Indian hill station of Mussoorie. Named the Central Tibetan Administration ( CTA) of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, this is the continuation of the government of independent Tibet. In May 1960, the Central Tibetan Administration was moved to Dharamsala, situated in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
The Tibetan people, both inside and outside Tibet, recognize Central Tibetan Administration as their sole and legitimate government. CTA is also being increasingly recognized as the legitimate government and true representative of the six million Tibetan people by parliaments around the world.
Right from the beginning, the Central Tibetan Administration has taken upon itself the task of rehabilitating refugees and restoring the freedom of Tibet. Education has been on top of the rehabilitation agenda.
Alongside rehabilitation, CTA decided to experiment with modern democracy in preparation for a future, free Tibet. On September 2, 1960, the Tibetan Parliament in-Exile came into being.
In 1990, His Holiness the Dalai Lama announced further democratization, by which the composition of the Tibetan Parliament was increased to 46 members. It was empowered to elect the Tibetan Kashag or Council of Ministers, who are made answerable to it. Similarly, the Tibetan judiciary known as the Supreme Justice Commission is instituted. Today, the Parliament has 43 members (instead of 46 members) as His Holiness the Dalai Lama has decided not to exercise his power to nominate three members.
The newly empowered Tibetan Parliament in-exile en acted the present constitution in June 1991 under the title of The Charter of the Tibetans in-Exile.
Today, the Central Tibetan Administration functions as a veritable government and has all the attributes of a free democratic government. It must be noted, however, that the CTA is not designed to assume power when Tibetan becomes free. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has clearly stated in his manifesto entitled ' Guidelines for future Tibet's Policy and the Basic Features of its Constitution ' that the exile government would be dissolved as soon as Tibet regains freedom. His Holiness the Dalai Lama would then transfer his power to a transitional government headed by an interim-President. The interim President, in turn, will be required to hold general election within 2 years and hand over power to the popularly elected government.
Constitution The Constitution of the Tibetan exile community is known as ' The Charter of Tibetans in Exile'. It is the supreme law governing the functions of the Central Tibetan Administration. The Charter was drafted by the Constitution Redrafting Committee in 1990 and referred to the Tibetan Parliament. After careful deliberations, the Charter was unanimously passed by the X1th Tibetan Parliament in-Exile on June 14, 1991. It was approved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on June 28, 1991.
The Charter professes to adhere to the universal Declaration of Human Rights as specified by the United Nations and to provide to all Tibetans equality before the law, enjoyment of rights and freedom without discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, language and social origin. It clearly states in the preliminary that all Tibetans will strive to bring about future Tibet comprising the whole province of U-tsang, Do-Toe (Kham) and Do-Mey (Amdo) as a democratic, federal, republic state and a zone of peace.
The Charter provides for a clear separation of power among the three organs of government:
Judiciary, Legislature and Executive. Before the Charter was adopted, the Central Tibetan Administration functioned along the lines of the draft democratic constitution for a future Tibet, promulgated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1963.
Judiciary The Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission is the highest judicial organ of the Tibetan community in-exile. It was formally inaugurated on March 11, 1992 with its office in Gangchen Kyishong, seat of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Judiciary is one of most important organ of a democratic institution. Whenever an issue of contention arises in the course of the Executive's implementation of any law enacted by the Legislature, the judiciary interprets, or makes decisions thereof; thus protecting the rule of law by guaranteeing justice to all and making the whole of the institution of democracy vibrant and meaningful.
According to the Charter, The Supreme Justice Commission (SJC) is responsible for adjudicating all civil disputes in the Tibetan settlements. It, however, does not entertain any case if the doing of so in seen to transgress the authority of the host countries. Similarly, the SJC does not handle criminal cases as this is the preserve of the host government.
The Supreme Justice Commission is headed by the Chief Justice Commissioner (CJC) and two Justice Commissioners, all of whom are nominated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and referred for the approval of the Parliament. If the Parliament does not reject the nomination by two-thirds majority, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will confirm the appointment.
Legislature Instituted in 1960, the Tibetan Parliament in-exile is the highest legislative organ of the Tibetan Community in-exile. The creation of this democratically elected body is one of the major changes that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has brought about in his efforts to introduce a democratic system of administration.
The Parliament comprises of 46 members. Tibetans from the traditional provinces of U-Tsang, Do-Toe and Do-Mey elect 10 members each, while four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon faith elect 2 members each. Three members are elected by Tibetan living in the West, 2 from Europe and one from North America. In addition, on to three members with distinction in the field of art, science and literature and community service are nominated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan Parliament in-exile is headed by a Speaker and Deputy Speaker, who are elected by the legislators themselves. Any Tibetan who has reached the age of 25 has the right to contest elections to the Parliament. Elections are held every five years and any Tibetan who has reached the age of 18 is entitled to vote.
Sessions of the Parliament are held twice a year, with an interval of six months between sessions. However, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as head of the state, can summon special sessions of the Parliament in case of national emergencies. When the parliament in not session, there is a standing committee of 12 members; two members from each province, one member from each religious denomination, and one member nominated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
As representatives of the people, the members of Parliament undertakes periodic tours of Tibetan settlements to make as assessment of their overall conditions. On their return from such trips, they bring to the notice of the administration any specific grievances and matters needing attention.
Additionally, the Tibetan Parliament in-exile keeps in touch with the people through Local Parliaments established in 38 major Tibetan settlements as is provided by the Charter of Tibetans In-Exile.
Executive The Kashag ( Cabinet ) is the apex executive authority of the Central Tibetan Administration. It is headed by a popularly elected political leader known as Kalon Tripa ( chief of the Council of Ministers).
Kalon Tripa is empowered by the Charter to nominate a team of up to seven Cabinet colleagues or Kalons. However, their appointment requires approval from 51% of the members of Parliament present and voting.
In the event of Kalon Tripa's resignation, or inability to continue in the office, the Tibetan community in-exile will have to go to the polls again to elect a new Kalon Tripa.
The Kashag is serviced by its secretariat and the Planning Council. While the secretariat provides the Kashag with secretarial and logistical services, the Planning council serves as a consultation in matters relating to socio-economic development of the exile community. As well as scrutinizing the project proposals, the Planning Council evaluates the performance of project activities undertaken by CTA departments.
ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE KASHAG ARE:
Department of Religion and Culture It seeks to preserve and promote Tibet's spiritual and cultural heritage which is on the verge of extinction in the Land of Snow.
For more then four decades Tibetan community in exile has established over 200 monasteries and nunneries with enrollments of over 20,000 monks and nuns. The Department gives back-up services to these cultural institutes. It maintains close contact with the Buddhist centers throughout the world.
Additionally, there are cultural centers for the study of both spiritual and cultural traditions of Tibet. While some of these centers are autonomous bodies, financed by the Government of India, others are financed and administered directly by the department. The best known of these cultural centers in India are : the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, Dharamsala, The Tibet House in New Delhi, Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarnath, Varanasi, Norbulingka Institute for Tibetan Culture at Sidhpur, Dharamsala.
Department of Home It is responsible for all rehabilitation efforts for Tibetans in-exile. Employment generation and promotion of self-reliance among the Tibetan populace has been the chief task since its inception.
The Department of Home looks after the welfare of 21 agricultural settlements, 11 cluster units, 8 agro-industries and four carpet weaving co-operatives in India. It also looks after 20 Tibetan settlements and handicraft societies in Nepal and Bhutan.
Local representatives of the department in the Tibetan settlements are known as Settlement officers or Welfare officers depending on the organizational structures. These officers may either be elected by the local Tibetan residents or appointed from Central Tibetan Administration, depending on popular wish of the local Tibetan residents.
Thus far, most settlements have decided in favor of appointees from the CTA. But, the CTA is making concerted efforts to encourage Tibetan people to elect their own administrative head as this is seen to be an essential milestone toward village self-rule and political maturity.
Department of Education It administers 77 schools in India, Nepal and Bhutan, serving 30,000 children, which form 70 percent of children in-exile. A further 15 to 20 percent attend private schools.
Out of 77 schools administered by the Department of Education, 28 are directly run and financed by the Central Tibetan School Administration (CTSA) of the Government of India.
The Tibetan Children's Villages in Dharamsala and Tibetan Homes Foundation in Mussoorie are autonomous bodies under the Department of Education. While TCV administers 17 schools and cares for a total of 11,500 students, the Tibetan Homes Foundation runs two schools with 2,200 students.
The education policy of the Tibetan in-exile is aimed at imbuing children with a sense of responsibility for the happiness of others. Towards this end, it has developed a system to impart an education which judiciously blends smaller skills and knowledge with the "others-before-self" motivation of traditional spiritual value system.
Department of Finance It formulates the annual budget of the Central Tibetan Administration and submits budget proposal to the Tibetan Parliament in-exile. The department also monitors CTA's spending and generates revenue for running the administration. The mainstay of its revenue is the annual voluntary contribution from the Tibetan community in-exile. The annual voluntary contribution is more widely and loosely known as the Green Book contribution.
The Green Book proposal came first in the form of a resolution passed at the general body meting of a grassroots level exile organization known as the Tibetan Freedom Movement in July 1972. Western educated activists and members of the movement proposed that if the CTA was to truly become a government of the people, by the people and for the people, it is necessary for people contribute running expenses of this institution.
After twenty years, the Tibetan Parliament in-exile passed a legislation stipulating that the payment of this contribution is one of main responsibilities of Tibetan nationals in-exile.
Any Tibetan wishing to apply for a service of CTA – such as admission to school, scholarship for higher studies, job with the exile administration - needs to produce the Green Book. Similarly, Tibetans wishing to exercise franchise or stand election for Tibetan public office must produce their Green Book.
Department of Security The primary responsibility of the department is to ensure the security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It has a Branch Security office which arranges pubic audiences with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and helps Tibetan refugees in seeking renewal of their refugee registration certificates from the Government of India. It also runs a research unit to monitor developments in Tibet and China.
In addition, the department runs three Reception Centres to look after the growing number of new refugees arriving from Tibet. The refugees usually arrive first in Nepal, from where they make their way to Dharamsala and other Tibetan settlements via Delhi. There are branch reception centres in Kathmandu and Delhi where new refugees are provided food and shelter, and guided to their onward destinations. The reception centres also help new refugees jobs, join schools and monasteries.
Department of Information & International Relations The Department of Information and International Relations educates the Tibetan people and international public opinion to the political, human rights and environmental conditions in Tibet. Towards this end, it publishes books, print and electronic materials on Tibet. The periodicals come out in three languages: Tibetan, English and Chinese.
The department serves as a protocol office of Central Tibetan Administration and liaises with the International media and Tibet support groups throughout the world.
There are 12 CTA foreign missions under the department. They function as the embassies of the Central Tibetan Administration. They are based in New Delhi, Kathmandu , New York, Geneva, Tokyo, London, Canberra, Paris, Moscow, Pretoria, Taipei & Brussels.
Department of Health The department of health runs 5 Primary Health Care Centres, 7 hospitals, 47 clinics and 2 mobile clinics in the Tibetan settlements of India and Nepal. It meets the cost of emergency health care needs of new refugees and other needy Tibetans in-exile
The Tibetan Medical and Astro-Institute in Dharamsala is an autonomous body under the auspices of the department. The Medical Institute has 47 branch clinics in various parts of India and Nepal to provide traditional Tibetan medical care to Tibetans in-exile and the local inhabitants.
AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTIONAL BODIES
Election Commission The power and functions of the Election Commission are to conduct and oversee elections of the Tibetan Parliament in-exile, Local Parliaments, the Speaker & Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, members and Chair of the Kashag ( Council of Ministers).
If the Central Tibetan Administration decides to call a referendum to secure people's verdict on a matter of extreme importance, it will fall upon the Election Commission to conduct referendum. Although the settlement/welfare officers of most the Tibetan Settlements are appointed by the CTA, Tibetan inhabitants have the right to elect them if they so wish or choose. In such a case, the Election Commission will conduct the election of the Settlement/Welfare officers as well.
In order to ensure the independence of the Election Commission, the Charter provides for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Two additional Commissioners are appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the general elections of the Tibetan Parliament in-exile.
The Chief Election Commissioner holds the office for a term of five years unless the Tibetan Parliament in-exile impeaches him/her by two-thirds majority.
Public Service Commission The Public service Commission is responsible for recruitment, training, appointment and promotion of the civil servants of the Central Tibetan Administration. The Chair of the Commission is appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for a term of five years. It came into existence on February 11, 1992 with the promulgation of the Charter of Tibetans in-Exile, which named it as a constitutional body.
Prior to that the civil servants of the Central Tibetan Administration were recruited by the erstwhile Department of Personnel, which was set up in 1973.
Office of Auditor General The Office of Auditor general (OAG) was established in 1962 to audit & look after the financial management of various governmental and non-governmental welfare organizations under the Central Tibetan Administration. As the activities of the Central Tibetan Administration expanded/increased, the importance of the Office of Auditor General grew at the same time.
In view of the importance of the functions and responsibilities of OAG, Article 106 of the Charter of Tibetans in-Exile provided an autonomous status to this office. Accordingly, the Auditor General is directly appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The first auditor general assumed his/her responsibilities on September 23, 1991.
The Office of Auditor-General is responsible for auditing accounts of all the CTA departments, and their subsidiaries. It also audits the accounts of most of the public institutions like the co-operative societies, trading concerns, educational institutes, hospitals, health centers, and so on. It further evaluates the efficiency, propriety and management performance.
In short, the Office of Auditor-General functions as a watch-dog on the Central Tibetan Administration. However, shortage of staff impedes OAG to complete audit of the entire branches. Out of 383 such organizations, the Office of Auditor-General could handle only 181 organizations.
Articles about the Topic What is Tibetan government in-Exile?
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