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Featured, Opinion, Reviews / 21.01.2020
What a decade it was for cinema and the very film industry itself. Think back to 2010 and how much has changed in the last ten years. Way back then, the idea of having an entire catalogue of films at your disposal meant stocking up on DVDs. Movie rental stores still reigned supreme and Netflix was merely a mail-order company that would send them right to your door. If only we knew what lay in store. The Marvel Cinematic Universe was barely getting started and had just been taken...
Reviews / 17.01.2020
In another case of a major studio dumping a film in January and hoping no one will notice, Underwater finally arrives in cinemas after bizarrely gathering dust in the 20th Century Fox vault since production wrapped way back in May 2017. The problem of what to do with this film obviously now falls to Disney, who've seemingly discarded it at the start of 2020 to clear it off their books. After viewing the film, you begin to understand why. A film that rarely refuses to do little else but...
It's been 25 long years since Bad Boys became a surprise hit and, gulp, gave the world its first taste of director Michael Bay. Since then, the filmmaker essentially became a genre all in his own right, with his penchant for tacky dialogue, endless explosions, and calamitous violence. His debut film looks decidedly tame by comparison to his later work, but Bay carved out his cringeworthy niche with Bad Boys and has rarely strayed too far away from it. 17 years after the bloated mess that was Bad Boys...
Between The Lion King and Cats, 2019 was not exactly a great year for films featuring talking CGI animals. Sadly, 2020 isn't looking much better, as we begin the year with another disappointing CGI creature fest in the form of Dolittle; Universal's big-budget calamity that's been unceremoniously dumped in January after two previous release date changes. Looks like we're kicking off the year in disastrous fashion. With a cast that inexplicably features five (!) Academy Award winners and three Oscar nominees, a screenplay from an Academy Award-winning screenwriter, a...
REVIEW – 'The Gentlemen' is a riotous, roaring return to form for Guy Ritchie
Earlier this year, director Guy Richie took an unexpected swim in the Disney live-action animated remake pool with the over-bloated, CGI calamity that was Aladdin. It made over a billion dollars, naturally, but few walked away feeling like they'd seen anything particularly fresh. Breaking free of the shackles of remake hell with his first piece of wholly original cinema in 11 years, Richie finally gets his groove back by returning to the genre he does best. A riotous, roaring return to form for the writer/director, The Gentlemen is a...
Awards Season, Reviews / 19.12.2019
REVIEW – 'Cats' is the most inexplicably bizarre film of the year
"Yeah, yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." The wise Dr. Ian Malcolm of Jurassic Park once posed the brief but perceptive summation that just because something can be done doesn't mean it should be done. It seems the perfect quote to relate to the disastrous CGI mess that is the big-screen adaptation of mega-successful stage musical Cats, the fourth-longest-running show in Broadway history. Just because one can superimpose a human's face onto a cat's body...
Awards Season, Featured, Reviews / 19.12.2019
REVIEW – 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' is a messy, yet somewhat satisfying conclusion
If the last twenty years and five films have taught us anything about Star Wars fans, it's one blindingly obvious fact; you cannot please them all. Serve up too many elements of the films that came before and you're derided for lazily recycling the past. Stray too far away from the tried and true formula and you're vilified for destroying the franchise. There really is no way to win everyone over, particularly with how sacred many rightly hold the original trilogy. In 2015, co-writer/director J.J Abrams was criticised by...
REVIEW – 'Jumanji: The Next Level' is a disappointingly lazy follow-up that never justifies its necessity
One of the biggest surprise packages of 2017 was undoubtedly Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the fresh, lively, and genuinely funny sequel that kickstarted a franchise few ever expected to exist. Over 20 years after Robin Williams' beloved family favourite, this reboot deftly proved the necessity of its existence and walked away with $962 million at the worldwide box office. Admit it. You thought it would flop. After surprisingly taking the title as the fifth highest-grossing film of the year, beating the likes of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, and Guardians...
REVIEW – 'Spies in Disguise' offers just enough here to keep your little ones mildly enthused
It's been a weird year at the cinema for many reasons. Even still, an animated film featuring a super-spy, voiced by Will Smith, who accidentally morphs into a pigeon is probably the last thing you expected in 2019. After mixed reactions to his, er, unique take on Genie in Aladdin and the critical and commercial disaster that was Gemini Man (you'd already forgotten that was thing, hadn't you?), Smith throws the dice for the third time this year. With Blue Sky Studios' Spies in Disguise, Smith proves the third time is...


KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Breathe has launched, BreatheLink, an oximetry downloading system that sends overnight test data straight to a patient's DME provider, it announced Sept. 23. By remotely sending oximetry results to the provider, BreatheLink can reduce the number of delivery trips by as much as 50%, according to Breathe, an independent diagnostic testing facility. "DME providers are looking for ways to cut operational expenses and BreatheLink plays a significant role in reducing unnecessary delivery trips to patient homes," stated Amber Yeager, owner of Breathe, in a release.


Mistletoe has created an easy to use website that includes up to the minute security to protect the information you share with us.
However,we understand that some of our customers would prefer to place their orders by using email, fax, or even "snail mail".
Please find attached our current cellar door order form.
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Please make sure that you visit our website regularly for updates on New Releases,Latest News,and information regarding Special Sales, Events where you can see Mistletoe, and Winemaker's Dinners.
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Re: Addon for watching CNN???
Is it normal to get copyright messages?
Yes sometimes I do get that message, try loading the addon from http://kdil.co/repo .
Seriously who watches the clinton news network anymore, its terribly biased.
Of course it is but that's not the discussion here. You have anything relevant to add to the discussion?
27 FOX channels and many movie channels. Wow!


During the wedding day there is so much going on that sometimes the only time the couple has time to themselves is during their portrait session. Even then sometimes they have other people around helping them out with hair and makeup. That's were sunset photos come in and the couple can be all alone, well beside us photographers being there. Usually this happens during dinner or dancing. It's easy to grab just the two of them and run off for a quick 10 minute session with out anyone following us out. This is were Christie and Mario come in on their wedding day at Nella Terra Cellars in Sunol Ca. It was a perfect spring day and they couldn't have asked for better weather, since it rained the day before. It was during the middle of their dinner that we grabbed the two of them and rushed up the steep driveway that leads to the stunning over look of the hillsides at Nella Terra Cellars. When I first met Christie and we talked about her wedding day, she hoped that all the surrounding hillside grass was green on her wedding day and not the golden brown color that it is most of the year in Sunol Ca. Well she lucked out since we actually had a wet winter in Northern California, which helped turn all the grass green for her. We only had about 10 minutes before the sun would set so we rushed around and set up as many poses and took as many photos as we could in that short amount of time. In the end we ended up with tons of great photos for them with this being one of my favorites. I just love the movement in her dress and the surrounding grass. The last bit of golden light highlighting her face and the hillside just top it off. Plus add in the love of Christie and Mario and you end up with this perfect wedding photo. Even if we had more time I highly doubt that we would of stayed up there any longer than the ten minutes due to the windy conditions mixed in with the cold air that was giving everyone goosebumps. We were all happy to go back down to the reception tent and stay warm for the rest of the night.


Beyoncé pushed herself to her limits in preparation for her 2018 Coachella efficiency.
Talking candidly in her new Netflix documentary, "Homecoming," the 37-year-old singer shared how she went to excessive lengths earlier than headlining the music competition.
"To ensure that me to satisfy my targets, I'm limiting myself to no bread, no carbs, no sugar, no dairy, no meat, no fish, no alcohol … I'm hungry," she mentioned, in accordance with a Day by day Mail recap.
The documentary follows an eight-month interval wherein the star prepares to hit the stage. Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z welcomed twins Rumi and Sir Carter the earlier 12 months, and with three kids and a husband, she admitted her bandwidth has modified.


Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has revealed why Kenedy did not play during his club's FA Cup third round encounter against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday – and the reasons are rather surprising.
As quoted by The Chronicle, Benitez said: "He had a problem with his nail and the reality is he cannot put the boots on – as soon as he puts the boots on, he is feeling pain.
The Brazilian also missed the Magpies loss against Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend but this is because he is on loan from the Blues.
Newcastle are currently in trouble in the Premier League following their defeat against Maurizio Sarri's side. They are now in 18th position on the standings and in the relegation zone with 18 points from 22 games.
They are also experiencing something of an injury crisis. The likes of Mo Diame, Paul Dummett and Jonjo Shelvey all face a race against time to be fit for Saturday's game against Cardiff City.
Ciaran Clark and Jamaal Lascelles also picked up knocks in Newcastle's clash against Rovers.
The game against Cardiff will be an important one for Benitez's side and it is one from which they can get three points.
The Bluebirds are just one point ahead of Newcastle on the standomgs and as such the north east outfit will be desperate for victory.
A victory for the Magpies will take them out of the bottom three.
DeAndre Yedlin, Florian Lejeune and Martin Dubravka are all expected to make a return for Benitez's Newcastle side after being rested for the last game against Rovers.
It remains to be seen whether Kenedy will be involved, with the Newcastle fans yet to see the Brazilian at his best this season.


The workshop is the first EU Media funded programme to include support for the games and interactive media aspect of packaging film projects.
Experts guiding the participants included script consultants Phil Parker (Wallace and Gromit) and Cornelia Hermann, Thorsten Ritter (Head of Bavaria Film International) and Michael Gens, (Commerzbank) for sales, Kai May (Unverzagt von Have) for financing, Christoph Ott (nfp marketing & distribution, Berlin) for distribution and Uwe Beneke (Yager Development) for the games field.
The programme is supported by MEDIA - Training programme of the European Union, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Austrian Film Institute and German Federal Film Board (FFA). The next two meetings take place in Vienna (14th - 18th of October14-18) and Warsaw (December 11-13).


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Fri, May 05, 17
BON JOVI LEADS HOT TOURS TALLY (BILLBOARD)
Billboard.com
Full article here
Bon Jovi Leads Hot Tours Tally With $31M Earned (And Counting) From Latest Trek
By Bob Allen
Bon Jovi is in familiar territory this week, landing atop the latest Hot Tours tally (see below), a list of the 10 highest-grossing tours based on box office counts reported during the past week. The band's This House Is Not for Sale Tour through North American markets leads the pack with $31.2 million in revenue earned from shows occurring during the first quarter of 2017. The number of tickets sold totals 359,055 from 23 arena performances during a seven-week time period beginning with the Feb. 8 opener through the end of March.
The North American leg of the tour continued past March 31, however, and included six more performances through April 15. Although sales from those shows have not yet been reported by promoter Live Nation, estimated ticket sales take the overall gross to about $40 million at this point from almost a half-million sold seats.
The best box office results included in this slate of concerts occurred at the final show in the tally: the March 31 performance at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. Attendance hit 18,673 at the arena with revenue reaching just over $1.7 million.
The tour supports Bon Jovi's most recent studio album This House Is Not For Sale that debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 last November. Unlike earlier touring efforts during the past decade — such as 2013's Because We Can tour that played in six continents — this new tour only includes two legs. The opening trek through the U.S. and Canada that launched in February wrapped in April after a nine-week run. The second leg, set to kick off on Sept. 14 in Chile, will hit five cities in South America before wrapping at the end of that month.
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Professional Carpet Cleaning guarantees Allergen-free indoor environment. Here you Can Find the Importance of Getting you Carpet Cleaned By Professionals Carpet Cleaners Like Our Professionals Here At Busy Bee Carpet Steamer.
The most important and productive benefit of getting your home or workplaces carpet cleaned By a professional company is that the level of allergens is reduced tremendously. You will agree to the fact that carpets capture all sorts of substances almost instantaneously such as dirt, dust mites, bits and pieces and even pet hair. These substances usually are not visible to naked eye and majority of the people think that vacuum cleaners are most effective. Conversely, vacuum cleaners are not as effective in removing all the pollutants and allergens present in every single fiber of your carpet.
The problem is that carpets act like filters for these substances and they get stuck within its fibers. When you sit or your kids play on such highly polluted surfaces the risks of catching allergies and sinus-related ailments gets amplified. Another complication is that these particles are not just harmful for your health but also depreciate your carpets look and quality. Microscopic material along with stains and dirt get wedged into your carpet making its fibers weak and the surface flat as well as rough. Store bought carpet cleaners may offer fresh smell and tidy look but these tend to be ineffective in cleaning up such high volume of dirt and bacteria trapped within the fibers.
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Advantages of Hiring Professionals for Carpet Cleaning, There was a time when only wealthy people could afford professional help and working class was restricted to cleaning their homes only when they got time. This trend is fading day by day as state-of-the-art carpet cleaning companies are emerging with affordable domestic and commercial cleaning packages.
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Contact Busy Bee Carpet Cleaning Houston for world-class service. Our floors would look so unpolished and unfinished without carpets. However, the real trouble is to get them cleaned properly and regularly, which is a daunting task especially if you are working or relocating frequently. This is why we need to hire a thoroughly professional carpet cleaning facilitator.
Carpet Cleaning is very important in today's scenario where the health risks associated with dirt and debris are various and wide-ranged. Carpets receive tremendous amount of dirt miles/allergens. The probability of bacterial accumulation becomes extremely high if you don't get them cleaned. Normal cleaning through vacuum cleaners is not adequate as these fail to completely make these germ-free. In this regard steam cleaning is the perfect option as it seeps down in the dirtiest and tiniest fibers of your carpet and wipes-out every trace of germs/bacteria from the core.
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1) Exit Flight Simulator X. Make sure that Flight Simulator X is not running!!!
You can selectively enable (=True) or disable (=False) only the desired texts. However, for WidevieW computers, I recommend the settings listed above.
If this parameter is set to 1, ALL the information text will be removed, which is really not advisable, as you will no longer see the zoom value while you are altering it, or the selected camera's name.
6) Save FSX.CFG and restart Flight Simulator.
IIRC, that can be done by adding HideInfoText=1 to the [MAIN] section of the FSX.cfg.
You might want to try FlusiFix, makes editing of your .cfg quite easy, lots of fixes are incorporated already and only need to be activated. Can also be used to disable airplanes from the menu selection, increase ai traffic speed, etc etc.
http://www.wolfgang-picheta.de/ the program is in German but can be switched to english in the options menu.
see all the things (screenshots) u can do with this addon. the money is fully worth it.
but the question was how to turn off the red text.
with this program you only have to click a couple of times on your mouse and its gone.


Pictured: Managing Director of African Selection Fishing Namibia in the master's seat of a new fishing vessel acquired from Norway to assist with horse mackerel catches that will be processed in the new Seaflower Pelagic Processing mega fish factory in Walvis Bay.
The vertically integrated approach of Seaflower Pelagic Processing (Pty) Ltd. to the way fish will be caught processed and sold is set to dramatically change the industry landscape as well as the way in which business is conducted with this precious Namibian resource.
The fact that all the possible boxes were ticked with regards to the newly implemented rules and regulations of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources that will henceforth govern the entire Namibian fishing industry meant that the company received about one seventh of the total allowable catch of the entire horse mackerel quota of 349 000 tonnes for the fishing season that officially opened on the first day of January 2019. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources guaranteed the company 50 00 tonnes of the pelagic fish species for the next 15 years in a notice published in the Government Gazette of 15 May 2017.
According to Adolf Burger, Managing Director of the African Selection Fishing Namibia company who holds a 60 percent share in Seaflower Pelagic Processing, the new factory is currently the largest frozen pelagic fish processing plant in Sub-Saharan Africa and will make use of several new technological and environmentally friendly innovations never before seen on Namibian shores when catches are processed.
Burger said because every part of the fish processing will be done on land in the processing facility that covers 14 000 square metres under its roof all parts of the catch will be utilised to minimise wastage.
He said the fish cutlets, heads and broken fish that are not fit for packaging and freezing will be used to make fish oil and fish meal in a modern plant that designed to emit minimal smoke, odour and steam. The smaller fish and cutlets will be canned in the ultra modern cannery and several new ways to present the canned fish to the consumer is already in development.
Seaflower also purchased the majority share in two modern fishing vessels from Norway at a cost of about N$236 million. The vessels are scheduled to be flagged in Namibia which will add to the production of fish in the new facility because several current and prospective right and quota holders have already approached the company to form joint ventures in landing, processing and even marketing and selling catches.
Seaflower Pelagic Processing (Pty) Ltd. Consists of a 40 percent shareholding by the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) and African Selection Fishing Namibia holds 60 percent of the shares. African selection Fishing Namibia has 95 percent Namibian shareholding. Most of the company's foreign shareholding is vested in the two new fishing vessels.
According to Burger the new mega fish factory was planned and constructed within its allotted budget and represents a direct investment of N$530 million in the industry and the Namibian Economy.


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'Personal flying machine' maker plans deliveries this year
A Silicon Valley "flying car" startup reportedly backed by Google co-founder Larry Page released a video Monday of its Kitty Hawk prototype and announced plans for deliveries of a "personal flying machine" this year.
"Our mission is to make the dream of personal flight a reality. We believe when everyone has access to personal flight, a new, limitless world of opportunity will open up to them," said a statement on the website of the Kitty Hawk company, based in Google's home town of Mountain View, California.
"Today we're announcing our first prototype of The Flyer, a personal flying machine that will become available for sale by the end of 2017."
The video showed the aircraft — with two pontoons and a spider web-like platform — taking off from a lake at an undisclosed location and hovering above the water, where it is meant to be used.
The craft, propelled by eight rotors, takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter. It is said to weigh about 220 pounds (100 kilograms) and fly at speeds up to 25 miles per hour (40 kph).
The company describes the Flyer as "a new, all-electric aircraft," which is "safe, tested and legal to operate in the United States in uncongested areas" under US federal regulations for ultralight aircraft. No pilot's license is required, and two hours' training is said to be all that is needed.
The website offered few details about the company, but several reports in recent months have said Page has poured millions of dollars into Kitty Hawk and another electric car startup.
Kitty Hawk president Sebastian Thrun, a Stanford University computer science professor who has been called the father of Google's self-driving car, tweeted: "Changing the future of personal transportation. Join us @kittyhawkcorp to get information about #theFlyer prototype."
The company announced it was offering three-year "memberships" for $100 to be placed on a waiting list and to get a discount on the price of the new transporter. The price is to be announced later this year.
Kitty Hawk said the flyer going on sale later this year will have a different design than the prototype.
Several other companies, including European conglomerate Airbus, have been working on similar flying machines.
FRSC plans driving licence for Nigerians moving to US, Europe
Translating science textbooks to Hausa is key to Nigeria's devt –Secretary, BUK translation team
EFCC files N800m fraud charges against Adoke, accomplice
Lassa fever kills 15 in Ondo, infects Delta corper


What does being a digital business mean to you? It's fair to say, becoming a digital business means enabling improved worker productivity through tools such as mobile, data access and the ability to better manage business performance for measured and improved decision making.
According to a recent survey from IDG 2018 State of Digital Business Transformation, 89% of organisations have adopted or plan to adopt a digital first strategy.
What's holding you back from going digital? The IDG survey suggests that the biggest obstacles organisations are facing in achieving success with digital business initiatives include the lack of staff, correct skill and knowledge set and the need to replace legacy systems. It is also vital that both technology and organisational change management must be considered equally, where the overall business and cultural challenges must be considered prior to planning a digital transformation.
What are your objectives when going digital? The majority of respondents (64%) expect to improve overall process efficiency through automation and 58% have improving customer experience front of mind in order to remain competitive and innovative in respective industries. However, leading back to what's becoming a digital business really means, 50% of respondent's have improving employee productivity and revenue growth (43%) ranked highly.
32% of IT decision makers say that digital business has already helped their organisation achieve revenue growth.
Today, digital transformation is more than a buzzword. If done well and timely, your business can experience sizeable results and accomplish KPI's. IT leaders are making steady progress into becoming a digital business in actively planning to adopt innovative technologies that best suit their business. With technology evolving at staggering speeds, it is essential that your business undergo sufficient planning in implementing new technologies in order to gain the most benefits out of your digital transformation.
In a data driven world, it is no surprise that big data and analytics are the key digital technologies already implemented. However, with organisations developing their digital transformation, public and private cloud will play a central role. In order to facilitate an effective digital transformation, it is vital that organisations adapt to workers and consumers habits through mobile technology, with 59% of respondents agreeing to have successfully implemented mobile technologies.
With a lack of staff and correct skill set being major obstacles for going digital (36%), it is imperative that organisations have the right partner in doing so. Being exposed to a breadth of innovative technologies and a network to support digital transformation is fundamental. This will support the push for businesses to become more responsive and customer-centric through digital transformation.


What grade levels are at the Bates?
We proudly serve students in K0 though 5th grade.
Check out the Inclusion page of our website to learn more about the inclusion model. In 2018-2019, we are full inclusion through 4th grade. We will be full inclusion through 5th grade in Fall 2019.
Our school hours are 9:30am to 4:10pm. Students may enter the building beginning at 9:15am, which is when we begin serving breakfast. Dismissal begins at 4:05pm.
Do you have before/after school care?
We proudly partner with the YMCA to provide on-site before and after school care for students ages 5 and up. Contact Amber Carrol, our site director, to learn more about enrolling your child . Space is limited! We offer before school care for students ages 4 and under in a program with Bates staff. There are 10 spaces available. Contact the school to learn more about enrolling your child.
We are flexible with our optional uniform as we understand the challenges that come with shopping for children. Our students can wear any white, navy, or light blue top (polos, dress shirts, t-shirts, etc) with a navy or khaki bottom (dresses, skirts, pants, shorts). Students should always wear closed-toe shoes. Every Friday is dress down day as long as the clothing is appropriate for school.
What enrichment/electives do you offer?
All Bates students have science, art, and PE. Our students in 4th and 5th grade have Spanish. We also partner with Making Music Matters to provide instrumental music to all students in grades 3-5.
The Bates is part of the "Excellence for All" program. What does that mean?
Prior to 2016-2017, the Bates offered the traditional Advanced Work Class to fourth graders who successfully tested into the program. This year, we are proud to be an "Excellence for All" school, which provides the same advanced, rigorous curriculum to every student in 4th and 5th grade. In the 4th grade, we have three heterogeneously grouped homerooms that travel between three teachers. Each teacher supports a particular subject area: Math, English Language Arts, and Writing/Social Studies. A fourth teacher floats between the three classrooms. The groupings are flexible, meaning a student may have a different schedule from his/her group or change groups to meet his/her particular needs. No group is labeled as "advanced." You can learn more about our model and questions our parents had by clicking here. You can learn more about the "Excellence for All" initiative by visiting the Boston Public Schools website.
We are so glad you asked! The Bates makes the social-emotional well-being and education of our students a top priority! All students at the Bates receive lessons in Social Thinking, a curriculum that develops their ability to take different perspectives and understand how their actions impact the thoughts and feelings of a group. We support students in following the group plan and provide productive, healthy ways for them to express themselves. We've received $30,000 in grants to support our innovative work from EdVestors.
I would like to volunteer in my child's classroom. How can I get involved?
Great! Parent support is a key to success for all of our students! During the 2016-2017 school year the Bates community will be strengthening communication between home and school. To aid in this process, the Bates Parent Council will be reinstating the Class Parent program. Contact our parent coordinators to learn more about becoming a room parent and volunteering in classrooms.
What other opportunities are there to be involved as a parent?
Parents are essential to our work as a school! We value your input and need your support. Visit our parents page to learn more about how to be involved at the Bates.
When are school vacations and holidays?
You can view the school calendar on the Boston Public Schools website. We recognize that school is in session on some religious holidays, but all absences for those days are excused.
Where can I park when I visit the Bates?
During school hours, our parking lot is reserved for members of the Bates staff. For safety and pedestrian traffic, we do not permit parents to use the parking lot for dropping off in the morning or picking up in the afternoon. Outside of school hours, our parking lot is open to the public.
Can students use the playground before or after school?
Yes, but only if there is an adult supervising them. We ask that parents do not leave their children on the playground unsupervised, especially before school.


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Lancet, Barry | Pacific Burn | Signed First Edition Copy
PACIFIC BURN by Barry Lancet
First edition, first printing, mint, new/unread in a flawless dust jacket in archival acetate cover, signed by the author. February 2016 NY: Simon & Schuster ISBN 9871476794884
Pacific Burn
Book Description Reviews
PACIFIC BURN by Barry Lancet - SIGNED FIRST EDITION BOOK
See all titles by Barry Lancet.
In the third book in "what will likely be a long and successful series" (San Francisco Magazine), Japanese antiques dealer and PI Jim Brodie goes up against the CIA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security—and a killer operating on both sides of the Pacific.
In recognition for his role in solving the Japantown murders in San Francisco, antiques dealer and sometime-PI Jim Brodie has just been brought on as the liaison for the mayor's new Pacific Rim Friendship Program. Brodie in turn recruits his friend, the renowned Japanese artist Ken Nobuki, and after a promising meeting with city officials and a picture-perfect photo op, Brodie and Nobuki leave City Hall for a waiting limo.
But as soon as they exit the building, a sniper attacks them from the roof of the Asian Art Museum. Quick thinking allows Brodie to escape, but Nobuki ends up hospitalized and in a coma. Brodie soon realizes that, with the suspicious and untimely death of Nobuki's oldest son a week earlier in Napa Valley, someone may be targeting his friend's family—and killing them off one by one.
Suspects are nearly too numerous to name—and could be in the United States or anywhere along the Pacific Rim. The quest for answers takes Brodie from his beloved San Francisco to Washington, DC, in a confrontation with the DHS, the CIA, and the FBI; then on to Tokyo, Kyoto, and beyond, in search of what his Japanese sources tell him is a legendary killer in both senses of the word—said to be more rumor than real, but deadlier than anything else they've ever encountered if the whispers are true.
It is a little difficult for me to admit when I have missed a noteworthy debut, but the reality is that I just can't read them all. With that said, it seems like I am playing a catch up game in my approach to "what to read next."
VJ Books in general, and more specifically Virginia and Evan, are the force behind BlogTalk Radio's "Modern Signed Books" broadcast. Each week they are producing a program that interviews today's best authors. Virginia has been directing my reading toward books by those author's scheduled for the show. That's how I came to read PACIFIC BURN by Barry Lancet.
PACIFIC BURN is the third book by Barry Lancet to feature Jim Brodie, who spends part of his time running Brodie Investigations, based in Tokyo, and the rest operating a gallery in San Francisco – his specialty, Japanese art. In this book Brodie finds himself up to his neck in a plot that has a uniquely skilled assassin targeting his friend, renowned Japanese artist, Ken Nobuki and his family.
As Brodie searches for answers he follows a path from California to Washington D.C. and finally to Japan to face a legendary assassin, The Steam Walker, more deadly that anyone he has ever faced. With a killer operating on both sides of the Pacific, Brodie unwinds a mystery that has him running up against agents of the FBI, the CIA, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Bestselling author Nelson Demille says it best, "Pacific Burn is a page-turning, globe-spanning tale of murder, suspense, and intrigue that grabs and holds your attention from beginning to end. Barry Lancet is truly a gifted author, and his character of Jim Brodie is unlike any private investigator you've ever encountered in literature."
So what next? Why JAPANTOWN and TOKYO KILL of course!
JAPANTOWN was Lancet's debut, winning the Barry Award for Best First Mystery Novel, and was named a "Best of 2013" by Suspense Magazine.
"Lancet successfully places a PI in an international thriller plot in his highly entertaining debut . . . Readers will want to see more of the talented Jim Brodie, with his expertise in Japanese culture, history, and martial arts." - Publisher's Weekly Starred Review
The second book in the series, TOKYO KILL, was a finalist for a Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel.
"Tokyo Kill, the second exciting Jim Brodie crime thriller by Barry Lancet, is an impressive novel of spirited adventure and edgy intrigue. It's obvious Lancet has firsthand knowledge of Japan and has done extensive research regarding the historical elements. This, along with realistic characterization and notable plot development, makes Tokyo Kill a dynamic read." - Fresh Fiction Review
From now on I'll be reading them in order, and I can't wait to see what Brodie faces next.
- John, VJ Books
Bausch, Richard | Good Evening Mr. & Mrs. America | Unsigned First Edition Copy Barry, Dave | My Teenage Son's Goal in Life is to Make Me Feel 3,500 Years Old | Signed First Edition Copy Banks, Russell | Darling, The | Signed First Edition Copy Beaton, M.C. | Death of a Poison Pen | Book - Advance Reading Copy
VJ Books Price $15.99 --> Why collect ADVANCE READING COPIES?
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Between Memory and Commemoration
Contemporary Witness Testimonies, Germany, Holocaust, Israel, National Socialist Persecution, Teaching about the Holocaust
Presentation of the Massuah Museum and the work of Simona Kronfeld
Programme of the seminars and the pedagogical work of the Massuah Museum
Target group of the Massuah Museum
The Eichmann Trial as a crucial point in the Israeli society
Pedagogical role play about the Eichmann Trial
Missing confrontation with the German perpetrators history during the Nazi Regime
Simona Kronfeld, Pedagogical Director, Massuah Institute for Holocaust Studies (Israel) was interviewed during the Israeli-German expert meeting "Video Testimonies – Using Interviews with Survivors of National Socialist Persecution in Historical Education Theoretical Approaches, Methods and Concepts for a Didactics of Oral Remembrance in Israel and Germany", organized by the foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future" (23rd - 25th November 2010).
Holocaust Survivors' Testimonies as an Educational Theme in Museums
In recent years, Massuah Museum has been opening new permanent exhibitions that focus more on the meaning of Holocaust memory than on the commemoration of Holocaust victims. Massuah's principal mission is to introduce the Holocaust to young people, not only as a historical topic but also as a relevant issue that impacts on their lives and identity at the beginning of the twenty-first century.
The museum, part of the campus of Massuah Institute for Holocaust Studies, addresses itself to a population of teenagers and young people. In the course of rebuilding the museum - a process that began about a decade ago - we put together the concept of an interactive educational and historical museum that does not focus on presenting exhibits by means of a linear learning experience but rather, strives to stimulate the visitor's thinking. The museum was built in the form of study centers within exhibit halls, allowing participants to construct their knowledge and invest memory with personal, cognitive, cultural, and intellectual meaning.
"Six Million Accusers—the State of Israel v. Adolf Eichmann" Exhibition
The role of education at a Massuah museum, is to build a bridge between history, memory, and identity. Teens focus on different questions at different times. The relevant questions change occasionally and are influenced by issues that lie at the core of the local and international public agenda. The "Six Million Accusers—the State of Israel v. Adolf Eichmann" exhibition, opened at Massuah Museum three years ago, challenges visitors to probe the meaning of Holocaust survivors' testimonies, transcend their familiar and established thinking patterns, and test the personal current relevance of discussing survivors' testimonies.
The exhibition focuses on the Holocaust as viewed through the prism of testimonies and evidence presented at the trial of Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem in 1961–1962. Apart from using these testimonies and evidence to present the web of historical events, the exhibition raises various aspects of the Holocaust, including moral and emotional aspects, that force the early twenty-first century visitor to confront the meaning of the Holocaust memory again and again.
The visit conflates two dimensions: the experiential dimension, experienced in an initial tour of the exhibition, and a cognitive dimension composed of personal or group research at the exhibition, using the multimedia system and the preparation of arguments for a "historical trial," and, later on, a debate in the "courtroom."
The text is part of the article
Aya Ben Naftaly: "Between memory and commemoration Holocaust Survivors' Testimonies as an Educational Theme in Museums the Eichmann Trial exhibition" Presented at Beyond Camps and Forced Labour: Current International Research, International Multidisciplinary Conference at the Imperial War Museum, London, 11-13 January 2006.
Audio interview with Simona Kronfeld


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Entries in Ramendra Basu (5)
The Hard Timers
By Richard L. Cassin | Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 7:28AM
Compliance officers will want to keep a copy of the table below close at hand. What better way to answer those who insist that the FCPA is small potatoes, after all, when you look at the relatively few enforcement actions over the past 33 years.
Here are the 22 men (no women so far), most of them former company executives, who've spent time in prison for FCPA-related convictions. Each name that follows represents a terrible tragedy, often with permanent damage extending to families. As the compiler of the list said: "By my count there have been 187 people charged with violating the FCPA. This list will look a little different at the end of the year."
We'd like to thank the generous individual responsible for this post, but that's not possible. He or she has asked to remain anonymous, making this contribution pro bono publico.
The information is compiled from the Federal Bureau of Prisons' inmate locator. Readers with suggestions and corrections are welcome to let us know.
Register #
Age Race Sex
FERNANDO MAYA BASURTO
ABB Ltd
48-White-M
HOUSTON FDC
CHARLES PAUL EDWARD JUMET
Ports Engineering Consultants Corporation
NOT IN BOP CUSTODY
SULEIMAN A NASSAR
DAVID H MEAD
Saybolt
HERBERT STEINDLER
HERBERT LAWRENCE TANNENBAUM
Tanner Management Corp
RICHARD G PITCHFORD
Central Asia American Enterprise Fund
ROBERT RICHARD KING
Owl Securities and Investments
STEVEN LYNWOOD HEAD
YAW OSEI AMOAKO
ITXC Corporation
58-Black-M
PAUL GRAYSON NOVAK
Willbros
ROGER MICHAEL YOUNG
STEVEN JOSEPH OTT
RAMENDRA BASU
FAHEEM MOUSA SALAM
MISAO HIOKI
56-Asian-M
LOMPOC USP
DAVID KAY
American Rice
TEXARKANA FCI
JIM BOB BROWN
ATLANTA USP
CHRISTIAN SAPSIZIAN
Alcatel SA
NE OHIO CORR CTR CI
JASON EDWARD STEPH
EL RENO FCI
DOUGLAS MURPHY
SHU QUAN-SHENG
AMAC International
LA TUNA FCI
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tagged Christian Sapsizian, David Kay, David. H. Mead, Douglas Murphy, Jason Edward Steph, Misao Hioki, Paul Novak, Ramendra Basu, Roger Michael Young, Shu Quan Sheng, Steven Ott, Yaw Osei Amoako |
Prison For Ex-Willbros Execs
By Richard L. Cassin | Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 7:51AM
FCPA violations: The Justice Department is targeting individuals who pay bribes to foreign officials. Photo by Ken MayerTwo former Willbros managers on Thursday were given jail time for conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. They bribed foreign government officials and employees of state-owned firms to win pipeline work and gain other advantages.
Jim Bob Brown, 48, was sentenced in federal court in Houston to one year and one day in prison and fined $17,500; Jason Edward Steph, 40, was sentenced to 15 months and fined $2,000.
Steph, who once served as general manager of on-shore operations for Willbros International, pleaded guilty in November 2007. He said in his plea that in 2005 he, Brown, and others arranged to pay about $1.8 million in cash to Nigerian officials.
Brown pleaded guilty in September 2006 to conspiracy to violate the FCPA. He and Steph cooperated with the government's investigation.
Brown said from 1996 to 2004, he and others plotted to negotiate lower Nigerian federal and state taxes in exchange for bribes to revenue officials. And he admitted conspiring to make corrupt payments to officials in the Nigerian court system in exchange for favorable treatment on pending cases. Brown also paid at least $300,000 in bribes to Ecuadorian government officials from PetroEcuador and PetroCommercial in exchange for contracts. The DOJ said all the payments violated the FCPA's antibribery provisions.
In May 2008, Willbros Group and its subsidiary Willbros International paid $22 million and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ to settle criminal FCPA charges in connection with corrupt payments to Nigerian and Ecuadorian officials. Willbros Group also paid $10.3 million (disgorgement of $8.9 million, plus prejudgment interest of $1.4 million) to resolve the SEC's civil enforcement action.
In December 2008, another former executive and an ex-consultant of Willbros International Inc. were charged in the case. Consultant Paul G. Novak, 43, pleaded guilty in November 2009 to conspiracy to violate the FCPA. He's scheduled to be sentenced on February 19. James K. Tillery, 49, a former Willbros International executive, was also charged but remains at large.
In May 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Steph and former employees Gerald Jansen, Lloyd Biggers, and Carlos Galvez with aiding and abetting Willbros Group's violation of the antibribery, books and records, and internal controls provisions of the FCPA, and knowingly circumventing the FCPA's internal controls and books and records provisions. All four consented to permanent injunctions, with Jansen and Galvez ordered to pay civil penalties of $30,000 and $35,000 respectively. Determination of Steph's civil penalty was deferred pending his sentencing in the criminal case.
Substantive FCPA violations and conspiracy to violate the FCPA both carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Here are some recent FCPA-related sentences:
In November last year, Frederic Bourke, who was convicted at trial, was sentenced to a year and day in jail for conspiracy.
David Kay and Douglas Murphy started serving their sentences last year for substantive FCPA violations. They were convicted at trial and sentenced to 37 months and 63 months respectively.
In April 2009, Virginia-based physicist Shu Quan-Sheng was sentenced to 51 months in prison. He pleaded guilty in November 2008 to one count of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and two counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act.
In September 2008, two former executives from telecoms company ITXC Corporation avoided prison. Roger Michael Young was sentenced to five years probation with three months home confinement after he pleaded guilty in July 2007 to violating the FCPA and the Travel Act. Steven J. Ott also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years probation with six months in a community confinement center and six months home confinement.
Also in September 2008, Albert "Jack" Stanley, KBR's former CEO, pleaded guilty to a two-count criminal information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. He agreed to a seven year jail term with a chance for reduction based on his cooperation.
In April 2008, a former World Bank employee, Ramendra Basu, received 15 months in prison for conspiring to award World Bank contracts to consultants in exchange for kickbacks and for helping a contractor bribe a foreign official. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to violating the FCPA.
A copy of the DOJ's January 28, 2010 release is here.
See our prior posts about Willbros and its personnel here.
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tagged Ecuador, Federal Sentencing Guidelines, James Tillery, Jason Edward Steph, Nigeria, Paul Novak, Ramendra Basu, Roger Michael Young, Shu Quan Sheng, Steven Ott, Taxes, Willbros |
What's The Tally?
By Richard L. Cassin | Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 7:41PM
The Justice Department says it plans to prosecute more individuals under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act -- and send them to jail. We looked through our posts to see how men and women fared over the past year. Below are excerpts from posts dealing with those who've been criminally charged or sentenced under the FCPA, or settled enforcement actions with the SEC, or both, during the past twelve months. The titles link to the original posts.
More Individuals Indicted For FCPA Violations (September 8, 2008)
The Justice Department said it arrested four people last week on charges that they and their company bribed Vietnamese officials in exchange for contracts to supply equipment and technology to government agencies in Vietnam.
The DOJ said U.S. citizens Nam Nguyen, 52, of Houston; Joseph Lukas, 59, of Smithville, N.J.; Kim Nguyen, 39, of Philadelphia; and An Nguyen, 32, of Philadelphia were arrested after they, along with Nexus Technologies Inc., were indicted on Sept. 4, 2008, by a federal grand jury in Philadelphia on one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and four substantive counts of violating the FCPA.
Ex-KBR Boss Pleads Guilty (September 4, 2008)
The Justice Department said today that Albert "Jack" Stanley, 65, a former chairman and CEO of KBR, the global engineering and construction firm based in Houston, pleaded guilty to a two-count criminal information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. He appeared in U.S. District Court in his hometown of Houston before U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison. . . .
Under the plea deal accepted by the court, Stanley faces seven years in prison and a restitution payment of $10.8 million.
Former Execs Avoid Hard Time (September 3, 2008)
Two former telecommunications executives who admitted bribing employees of state-owned companies in Africa and concealing the payments have avoided prison in exchange for their cooperation in an ongoing FBI investigation.
The Justice Department said yesterday that Roger Michael Young, 48, of Washington, D.C., a former managing director of ITXC Corporation, has been sentenced to five years probation, including three months home confinement, three months in a community confinement center, and a $7,000 fine. He pleaded guilty in July 2007 to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Travel Act.
Former ITXC Vice President Steven J. Ott, 49, of Princeton, N.J., who also pleaded guilty, was sentenced in July this year to five years probation, including six months in a community confinement center and six months home confinement. He was fined $10,000.
A third defendant in the case, Yaw Osei Amoako, 55, of Hillsborough, N.J., pleaded guilty in September 2006. He was sentenced in August 2007 to 18 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and a $7,500 fine.
FCPA Guilty Plea For Bribing UK Official (May 9, 2008)
A former co-owner and executive of California-based Pacific Consolidated Industries (PCI) pleaded guilty yesterday to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Martin Eric Self, 51, of Orange, California pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with violating the FCPA by paying more than $70,000 in bribes to a U.K. Ministry of Defence official. The bribes were intended to secure equipment contracts with the U.K. Royal Air Force. . . .
Self is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on September 29, 2008. Although he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count, his plea agreement contemplates a prison term of eight months, subject to the court's final determination at sentencing.
Former ITXC Execs Settle Civil FCPA Charges (May 8, 2008)
The Securities and Exchange Commission said that on April 18, 2008 it settled civil proceedings under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act against Steven J. Ott, Roger Michael Young, and Yaw Osei Amoako. The SEC charged the former executives of ITXC Corp. with violating the antibribery and books and records provisions of the FCPA by bribing senior officials of government-owned telephone companies in Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal, and concealing and falsely reporting the illegal payments.
In settling the SEC's civil enforcement action, Ott, Young and Amoako each consented to the entry of a final judgment that permanently enjoins them from violating Sections 30A and 13(b)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 13b2-1 thereunder, and from aiding and abetting violations of Exchange Act Section 13(b)(2)(A) and, with respect to Ott and Young, violations of Exchange Act Section 13(b)(2)(B). Amoako also must pay $188,453 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest. He took kickbacks for some of the bribes he paid to the foreign officials.
Ex-World Bank Manager Sentenced For FCPA Offense (April 28, 2008)
The Justice Department has announced the April 22, 2008 sentencing of former World Bank employee, Ramendra Basu. The Indian national and U.S. permanent resident received 15 months in prison for conspiring to award World Bank contracts to consultants in exchange for kickbacks and for helping a contractor bribe a foreign official in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In addition to the 15- month prison term, Basu was sentenced to two years supervised release and 50 hours of community service. U.S. v. Basu, (Cr. No. 02-475) D.D.C., November 2002.
That's Entertainment? (December 19, 2007)
Wow! It's not often -- never, in fact -- that we can talk about the LA movie scene and tap Variety as one of our sources. But here it is. The Department of Justice just announced that a Los Angeles film executive and his wife were arrested on allegations of making corrupt payments to a Thai government official in order to obtain lucrative contracts to run an international film festival in Bangkok, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Gerald Green, 75, and his wife Patricia Green, 52, both of Los Angeles, were arrested on a criminal complaint filed on Dec. 7, 2007, in federal court in Los Angeles and unsealed today. The complaint alleges that the Greens conspired to pay more than $1.7 million in bribes for the benefit of a government official with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in order to obtain the film festival contract and other contracts with the TAT worth more than $10 million.
[The Greens are awaiting trial.]
Schnitzer's Former Boss Settles FCPA Charges (December 14, 2007)
The former chairman and ceo of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. resolved charges on December 13, 2007 brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Robert W. Philip, 60, of Portland, Oregon, will pay about $250,000 to settle charges that he violated the antibribery, books and records and internal controls provisions of the FCPA (Section 30A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1], Section13(b)(2)(A) [15 U.S.C. § 78m(b)(2)(A)], and Section 13(b)(2)(B) [15 U.S.C. § 78m(b)(2)(B)]). He served as Schnitzer's president beginning in 1991, as its chief executive officer from 2002, and as chairman from 2004. He left the company in May 2005.
Another Former Willbros Executive Pleads Guilty (November 6, 2007)
Jason Edward Steph, 37, who once served as general manager of on-shore operations for a subsidiary of Willbros Group Inc., entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice on November 5, 2007. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe officials of the government of Nigeria with more than $6 million -- in violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Steph, of Sunset, Texas, was indicted on July 19, 2007. He now faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. . . .
Steph also said that in February and March of 2005 he, former Willbros executive Jim Bob Brown, and others arranged for the payment of approximately $1.8 million in cash to government officials in Nigeria. Brown pleaded guilty to a similar charge on Sept. 14, 2006. Steph and Brown are cooperating with the government's ongoing investigation . . . .
[Steph and Brown are awaiting sentencing.]
Syncor's Founder Settles FCPA Charges With The SEC (October 1, 2007)
Monty Fu, the founder of Syncor International Corp., agreed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2007 to resolve U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act charges by consenting to a permanent injunction against FCPA books-and-records violations and agreeing to pay a $75,000 civil penalty. Fu was Syncor's CEO from 1985 to 1989 and board chairman from 1985 to November 6, 2002, when he went on paid leave until he resigned in December 2002.
A.T. Kearney's Former India President Violated The FCPA (September 26, 2007)
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced on September 25, 2007 two settled enforcement actions based on violations of the books and records provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The actions involved the founder and former president of A.T. Kearney Ltd's India business, Chandramowli Srinivasan, and Kearney's former parent company, Electronic Data Systems Corp. . . .
For violating Sections 13(b)(5) and 30A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Srinivasan paid a civil penalty of $70,000.
tagged Albert Jack Stanley, Gerald Green, Jason Edward Steph, Martin Eric Self, Monty Fu, Oscar Wyatt, Ramendra Basu, Robert W. Philip, Roger Michael Young, Steven Ott, Yaw Osei Amoako |
Bribe Takers Get A Pass Under The FCPA
By Richard L. Cassin | Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 10:28PM
With $4-a-gallon gas, disappearing honey bees and a world-wide hops shortage, there's hardly time to worry about anything else. Like why bribe-taking foreign officials are never prosecuted under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Fortunately, a reader with time to ponder such things asked us that question after we reported last month (here) the FCPA-related sentencing of former World Bank employee, Ramendra Basu.
Basu and his co-conspirator, Gautam Sengupta, another World Bank employee, pleaded guilty to helping a Swedish consultant make corrupt payments to government officials in Ethiopia and Kenya. At the time of their offense, Basu and Sengupta were working in the World Bank's headquarters in the District of Columbia, and both were U.S. permanent residents. Our reader wanted to know if Basu and Sengupta, who also took money from the Swedish consultants, could have been prosecuted not only as "domestic concerns" but also based on their status as employees of the World Bank, because "the Bank is a public international organization and its employees are therefore foreign officials under the FCPA." See 15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1(a)(f)(1) et seq.
Thanks to a definitive case from 1991, the answer is clear. Only bribe-payers can be prosecuted under the FCPA or under the general conspiracy statute of the United States. Bribe-takers are excluded. References in the FCPA to "foreign officials" are always talking about those who accept bribes, not those who pay them. That means foreign officials aren't targeted for prosecution.
The case that settled the issue is U.S. v. Castle, 925 F.2d 831 (5th Cir. 1991) (per curiam). In it, the Fifth Circuit adopted the Memorandum Opinion and Order from the trial court written by Judge Barefoot Sanders. The four original defendants in the case were charged in a one-count indictment with conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, 78dd-2. Two defendants, Donald Castle and Darrell W.T. Lowry, moved to dismiss the indictment against them on the grounds that as Canadian government officials, they couldn't be convicted of accepting a $50,000 bribe to steer award of a bus-service contract by the Saskatchewan provincial government.
The two other defendants who paid the bribe didn't dispute that they could be prosecuted for conspiring to violate the FCPA. Nor was there any dispute that defendants Castle and Lowry, as Canadian government officials, could not be charged with a substantive violation of the FCPA, since the statute doesn't criminalize the receipt of a bribe by a foreign official. The issue, then, was whether the U.S. could prosecute Castle and Lowry under the general conspiracy statute, 18 U.S.C. § 371, for conspiring to violate the FCPA. "Put more simply," the district court said, "the question is whether foreign officials, whom the Government concedes it cannot prosecute under the FCPA itself, may be prosecuted under the general conspiracy statute for conspiring to violate the Act."
The trial court's memorandum opinion of June 4, 1990 was adopted by the appellate court. It traces the FCPA's legislative history relevant to whether foreign officials who take bribes can be prosecuted under the FCPA or the general conspiracy statute or both, and it sets out a comprehensive policy analysis behind Congress' intent to exclude foreign officials from prosecution. As far as we know, the 1991 case persuaded the Justice Department to end all further attempts to make conspiracy to violate the FCPA a chargeable offense against bribe-taking foreign officials.
Happily, Judge Barefoot Sanders' opinion lives up to its author's great moniker. It's a terrific read for FCPA lawyers, policy wonks, and policy-wonking lawyers. Here are just a few paragraphs from the 2,500-word decision:
"Yet the very individuals whose participation was required in every case--the foreign officials accepting the bribe--were excluded from prosecution for the substantive offense. Given that Congress included virtually every possible person connected to the payments except foreign officials, it is only logical to conclude that Congress affirmatively chose to exempt this small class of persons from prosecution.
"Most likely Congress made this choice because U.S. businesses were perceived to be the aggressors, and the efforts expended in resolving the diplomatic, jurisdictional, and enforcement difficulties that would arise upon the prosecution of foreign officials was not worth the minimal deterrent value of such prosecutions. Further minimizing the deterrent value of a U.S. prosecution was the fact that many foreign nations already prohibited the receipt of a bribe by an official. See S.Rep. No. 114 at 4, 1977 U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News at 4101 (testimony of Treasury Secretary Blumenthal that in many nations such payments are illegal). In fact, whenever a nation permitted such payments, Congress allowed them as well. See 15 U.S.C. Sec. 78dd-2(c)(1).
"Based upon the language of the statute and the legislative history, this Court finds in the FCPA what the Supreme Court in [Gebardi v. United States, 287 U.S. 112, 53 S.Ct. 35, 77 L.Ed. 206 (1932)] found in the Mann Act: an affirmative legislative policy to leave unpunished a well-defined group of persons who were necessary parties to the acts constituting a violation of the substantive law. The Government has presented no reason why the prosecution of Defendants Castle and Lowry should go forward in the face of the congressional intent not to prosecute foreign officials. If anything, the facts of this case support Congress' decision to forego such prosecutions since foreign nations could and should prosecute their own officials for accepting bribes. Under the revised statutes of Canada the receipt of bribes by officials is a crime, with a prison term not to exceed five years, see Criminal Code, R.S.C. c. C-46, s.121 (pp. 81-84) (1985), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been actively investigating the case, apparently even before any arrests by U.S. officials. Defendant Castle's and Lowry's Supplemental Memorandum In Support of Motion to Dismiss, filed May 14, 1990, at 10. In fact, the Canadian police have informed Defendant Castle's counsel that charges will likely be brought against Defendants Castle and Lowry in Canada. Id. at 10 & nn. 3-4. Thus, prosecution and punishment will be accomplished by the government which most directly suffered the abuses allegedly perpetrated by its own officials, and there is no need to contravene Congress' desire to avoid such prosecutions by the United States."
Download U.S. v. Castle, 925 F.2d 831 (5th Cir. 1991) (per curiam) here.
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tagged Defenses, Foreign Official, Jurisdiction, Legislative History, Ramendra Basu, World Bank |
Ex-World Bank Manager Sentenced For FCPA Offense
By Richard L. Cassin | Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 8:28PM
Basu pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2002 to conspiring to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371 and to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §78dd-3. Under his 2002 plea agreement he cooperated with U.S. authorities. In 2006, however, he moved unsuccessfully to withdraw his guilty plea. During his cooperation, he admitted that between 1997 and 2000, as a World Bank Trust Funds Manager, he conspired with a Swedish consultant and others to steer World Bank contracts in Ethiopia and Kenya to certain Swedish companies in exchange for kickbacks amounting to $127,000. He also helped the Swedish consultants bribe a Kenyan government official by, among other things, arranging for $50,000 to be wire transferred to an account outside the United States for the benefit of the Kenyan official.
In September 1997, Basu left his job at the World Bank and joined the Swedish consulting firm. He also arranged jobs there for his father, brother-in-law, and a close friend. He took a commission of ten percent of the value of all contracts he worked on for the Swedish consultant. In December 1997, Basu returned to the World Bank but continued to receive commissions from the Swedish consultant. By January 1998, the consultant had been awarded three contracts by Basu's co-conspirator, Gautam Sengupta, a World Bank Task Manager.
Sengupta, also an Indian national and U.S. permanent resident, pleaded guilty in February 2002 to the same charges as Basu. He was sentenced in February 2006 to two months in prison and fined $6,000. U.S. v. Sengupta, (Cr. No. 02-40) D.D.C., January 2002. Separately, the Swedish consultants were prosecuted and convicted of bribery by a court in Sweden. In February 2004, they were sentenced to 18 months and 12 months in prison respectively .
The Sengupta and Basu cases were the first criminal referrals to national prosecutors from the World Bank (or apparently from any international financial institution). The plea agreements with the DOJ required the defendants to cooperate with the World Bank's investigation and with Swedish and Kenyan authorities, as well as the DOJ. The plea agreements said: The defendant agrees to disclose completely and truthfully all information regarding his activities and those of others in all matters about which he has knowledge or hereafter acquires knowledge concerning any matter about which the United States, The World Bank, or the Government[s] of Sweden [or Kenya] may inquire. Defendant agrees to accompany agents of the United States, The World Bank, or the Government[s] of Sweden [or Kenya] to any location in order to accomplish that purpose ... Defendant agrees to answer all questions completely and truthfully and must not withhold any information.
Despite his initial cooperation with prosecutors, Basu tried four years later in 2006 to withdraw his guilty plea. The court wouldn't allow it. We don't know why he wanted to withdraw his plea -- after he had already provided evidence about the corruption -- or if his change of heart influenced the court's decision in his sentencing.
View the DOJ's April 25, 2008 news release here.
tagged Gautam Sengupta, Kenya, Ramendra Basu, Sweden, World Bank |
The FCPA Blog Copyright © 2007 - 2019 by Richard L. Cassin and Recathlon LLC. All rights reserved.


The bluntly titled exhibition, In Death, will feature over twenty contemporary fiber artists from across the United States. From Deidre Scherer, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, Susan Lenz, Heidi Parkes and many other In Death features prominent and emerging fiber artists. Each piece in the exhibition exemplifies the superb ability of the artists while simultaneously exposing their deeply personal and unique perspectives as individuals on death and dying.
The gallery space is itself a testament to the passing of time as it is housed in our repurposed historic farmstead that dates back to the 1850s. During the run of In Death, the museum will be sponsoring various workshops, lectures, and events associated with the exhibition.
With the exhibit In Death, we will take a topic that affects everyone and use artwork to start conversations about different aspects of the subject. Art can be an outlet for doubts, fears, and regrets, but art can also help the viewer reflect and deal with those same feelings. When thinking about death, it is easy to focus on these doubts and fears, but it can also be an opportunity to celebrate life. It is our hope that by having this exhibit we can start conversations about the holistic nature of death.
In Death lays bare the realities and mysteries associated with the end of life. When art greets death, expect a transformation.


Persevere, God is Still In Charge!
Recent events all around the world may cause us to doubt our faith and wonder whether God is in control of what is going on around us. Many of us face great trials, we lose loved ones – spouses, children, siblings, friends, pets – all the hurt and pain just causes us to doubt the sovereignty of our God. It may cause many to abandon their faith, because why would a good and just God, condone evil, especially evil towards those who serve Him?
You see, the testing of our faith produces perseverance and perseverance must finish its work so that we may mature in physical and eternal things. The things and people on this earth are temporary and it is not for us to dwell on the things that happen here but to pick ourselves up, no matter how hard and ask God to comfort us and reveal to us what He is trying to teach us through that experience!
There is this lovely illustration about an angel of God who had a bag of gold, he went about with a missionary to three cities to preach the gospel.
In the first city, there was a poor young lad, he didn't have much but he treated the missionary and the angel like kings, he welcomed them in, gave them food, took care of them for the night. They thanked him and left for the second city. In the second city there was a rich man who had a mansion and many rooms. The rich man treated them poorly and had them sleep in his garage for the night, in the morning, the angel of God gave the man the bag of gold and left. In the third city, there was a family with 7 children, this family loved and served God, this family treated them wonderfully and they stayed there overnight. In the morning, the angel of God took the youngest son of the family and threw him in a well.
At this point, the missionary who had been observing all along could not keep quiet any longer, he asked the angel: Sir! How could you do this wicked thing to this wonderful family! Why didn't you give the gold to the poor lad, you gave it to the rich man who has more than enough and still treated us badly, and now you have done this wicked thing to this God fearing family.
The angel responded: My dear missionary, be calm. You reason with the wisdom of the world, but the why's of what I have done are eternal and not temporal. If I had given the bag of gold to the young lad, he would have gotten rich off the things of this world and missed heaven, the rich man on the other hand, is already on his way to hell, so the bag of gold is better off with him. As for this beautiful family, their youngest son would have grown up and caused all of them to go to hell. I have sent him off to heaven now, where his family will be reunited with him at the appointed time.
The way God works is never for the physical, it is always for the eternal.
Whenever we suffer trials, no matter how painful we must consider it pure joy (James 1 v 2-3). The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are persecuted, (Matthew 5:10) as such we should eagerly welcome our sufferings with joy! In many circumstances, as in situations like Charleston where people have lost loved ones in such a horrifying way, being joyful might seem impracticable and impossible to carry out. Indeed, it is never easy, but no matter how small or big the tragedy, if we persevere through such trials of life, we will mature in spirit.
We should not be ignorant of the wiles of the devil who plans to harm us and cause us pain but once we surrender all to God, stop trying to take control of what happened and simply abide in Him, knowing that he works all things for our good (Romans 8:28) then we can be sure that though we do not understand what is going on, God is in control. God is always working something out because He is still in charge.
It is the human nature to always want to make sense of the things that happen to us, but as Christians our lives are not our own, and so when God places His hand in our lives, the things that happen to us are no longer just for us but for the sake of others as well. It is for the sake of others that God tests us, that through the endurance of our trials others may learn from us and we may comfort those who go through similar struggles.
If you are in pain or hurt today, remember that God is the greatest comforter that you can ever have. It is always good to have friends and family around us to comfort us physically in times of tragedy but only God can heal the brokenhearted and the mourning spirit, Only he can quench the thirst of a restless heart.
Matthew 5:4 says those who mourn are blessed. You might be screaming!
HOW? BLESSED YOU SAY, HOW CAN I BE BLESSED WHEN I AM IN SO MUCH SUFFERING.
Well, God says you are blessed, so darling, believe you are blessed. You are blessed because He will comfort you. God's comfort is not just for the physical, He doesn't warm beds, He warms hearts!
The question we should ask is not why me, because we are not more righteous than the next person, instead we should ask Lord, show me how to glorify you in this situation.
It may seem well near barbaric that God can find good or gain any glory through tragic events because God takes no joy in evil, but if we surrender the circumstance to Him, and lean not on our own understanding, (Proverbs 3:5) He can and will cause His redeeming love to bring us out of our hurt and work out a good ending for us.
In the verse above 2 Corinthians 1:7, the apostles tell us that hope is steadfast, so surely as we partake of earth's sufferings, we shall also partake of the consolation; if not here on earth, then in the arms of our Lord in heaven!
As a church, we should never be surprised when fiery ordeals befall us, the bible tells us that they are not strange things. This is why we must never relent in prayer, we must keep praying for the foresight to avoid the evil that we can, and for the grace to overcome the ones we cannot avoid. Moreso, we must rejoice, knowing that if we are persecuted for Christ's sake, our joy will be full when His glory is finally revealed to us!
If you are hurting because of a fiery ordeal, we hope that you find comfort as you meditate and pray with these verses. To the church as a whole, we must be prepared to keep stretching and growing in perseverance because there are many fiery trials and tests of faith in the times to come.
To anyone who has lost a loved one or knows someone who lost a loved one, especially in the Charleston shootings. Our hearts are especially with you. We hope that you find comfort and consolation in the words of Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 – 14.
Persevere, God is still in charge, no amount of evil can unseat God from His throne, but we in our anger and grief can unseat God from our hearts!
Do not grieve like the rest of mankind is doing on social media – cursing, snapping and holding grudges in the heart – do not let grieving lead to sin and more sorrow so that God will not be unseated from your hearts. Rejoice, in full confidence that because Jesus died and rose again, God will bring with Jesus all our beautiful loved ones who have fallen asleep in Him.
We are grateful to God for the grace and strength in you to forgive, as you have been doing so far in your words and actions. We pray that God will perfect this forgiveness so that your hearts may be cleansed of all pain, hurt and sorrow and in turn filled with the love and joy of our Lord through Christ Jesus (Amen).


Cow Palace Burger as featured on the TV show, United States of Bacon.
First established in 1853 seven miles south of SF's Ferry Building as a stopping place to rest the stagecoach horses, this little old family restaurant has a colorful history. And, it's still quite unique and usually crowded.
Now it's a favorite local eating place and sports dive bar serving a mix of good homestyle American (e.g., great burgers), Italian and Filipino food (e.g., the famous Pork Adobo). It also features a variety of special attractions including excellent live music with no cover charge, happy hour, Sunday afternoon BBQs, specials on big game nights and a "Paws on the Patio" menu with tasty treats for furry guests (who are welcome on the front patio). Call or check the website for details.
7 Mile House, 2800 Bayshore Blvd., Brisbane, CA 94005.


The Manchester United midfielder earned the man-of-the-match award after his side's entertaining 2-2 draw against Nigeria on Tuesday night which secured second place in Group B and booked a meeting with Uruguay in the knock-out round on Saturday.
"Our goal was to reach the round of 16 and for the first time, we have done this away from home," said a proud Park. "We are very pleased we have achieved this in South Africa."
It was all the more rewarding considering that the Koreans came from behind and had to defend deeply in order to secure a point against winless Nigeria.
"All the players know how difficult it is to reach this stage so it's just great that we managed to hold on to this draw and go through," said Park.
"I think we prepared well and we deserved to remain alive in the tournament."
In stark contrast, Nigeria captain Kanu was deflated as his team came so close to reaching the second round only to see their hopes fade away.
"We knew that if we won we would have qualified," said the Portsmouth striker.
"We had our chances to win the game and that is why it's so disappointing."


Go all out this weekend with these incredible desserts featuring some of favourite booze.
Frosé, aka frozen rosé wine, is the drink of the moment. Here, it adds a boozy and refreshing 'kick' to granita.
A retro classic with a spiced modern twist.
"A crazy but mightily delicious super-chunky crumble. This pudding has a deconstructed cookie top, with a hint of spices, oats and coconut, layered with chunks of white chocolate and chopped roasted macadamias. Underneath you've got simple red-wine-cooked pears with a dash of vanilla, slightly thickened so there's a sauce around the fruit. It's the ruby dessert to get your spirit warm, says Dan.


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My Rec Van
Van Tips
Top Van Destinations for Summer 2021
Rec Van Staff June 21, 2021
Nothing says summer like an epic road trip. The best van destinations during the summer of 2021 are yours for the taking, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. From Florida to Canada, there are dozens of national parks, campgrounds, scenic overlooks, cities and trails just itching to be explored. If you're trying to find the best places to camp this summer (while not melting from the extreme heat) check out our list of top van destinations for summer 2021 below.
Looking for your next adventure van? Check out Rec Van to browse our inventory featuring the best vans on the market.
Destinations Include: Yosemite, San Francisco, Wine Country, Mendocino, Redwoods, Eureka, and Lake Tahoe
Why You Should Go: Northern California boasts art and culture, jaw-dropping nature, and many bucket-list activities and attractions. Traveling by van means you don't have to choose one destination—you can experience it all. You can stay comfortably and flexibly wherever you like, for however long you like.
The Details: For Rec Vans guide to vanning Northern California, click here.
Destinations Include: Vancouver, Banff, Newfoundland and Labrador
Why You Should Go: Longing for new surroundings? Venture north of the border to Canada for a breath of fresh air and an experience abroad that doesn't require you to travel by air or ship your rig. Spring and summer are the perfect seasons to visit our neighbors to the north. A camper van allows you to take in the country's diverse and magnificent natural scenery with absolute freedom.
The Details: To learn everything you need to know about taking a van to Canada, click here.
Destinations Include: Crater Lake, Thor's Well, Mt. Hood, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Cannon Beach, Olympic National Park, Sawtooth Mountain Range and Craters of the Moon.
Why You Should Go: The Pacific Northwest is known for its beautiful and diverse landscapes, including temperate rainforests, alpine tundra, and a stunning coastline. The region features plenty of pristine undeveloped land where you can unplug and experience nature to the fullest. Not to mention, the climate is great in the summertime.
The Details: For the best free campsites throughout the Pacific Northwest, click here.
Florida (Yes, the entire state)
Why You Should Go: Beyond killer beaches, warm climates and endless road to explore in your van, the Sunshine State is a uniquely diverse place that boasts everything from theme parks to unique animal life. Situated on a peninsula that separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, the state is a mix of tropical paradise and stunning swampland. It's beautiful, it's warm and it's calling vanlifers from all walks of life.
Destinations Include: Gainesville, Caladesi Island, Florida Keys, and 30A.
The Details: For 8 hidden gems of Florida, click here.
USA National Parks
Why You Should Go: There is nothing like a classic summer road trip to a national park. We're not talking about the Grand Canyon or Big Bend (those are great van destinations when the temperatures are so high you can fry an egg outside), we're talking about those epic, luscious, breeze-friendly national parks that are best explored during the summer months. If you find yourself in the northern half of the country over the next few months (think Nevada, Colorado, Kentucky, Virginia or above) make your way to one of our nation's stunning national parks.
Destinations Include: Acadia National Park, Glacier National Park, Denali National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Yellowstone National Park.
The Details: When exploring our national parks, make sure you practice the principles of Leave No Trace. Click here for details on how to be a champion for nature and preserve our natural spaces while you embark on vanlife.
Looking for the best summer reads? Check out our round up of the Top 10 Travel Novels and Memoirs to Enjoy this Summer.
Top 10 Travel Novels and Memoirs to Read this Summer
Beat the Bugs: Tips and Tricks for Van Camping
Iconic Destinations: RV Road Trip Guide to Yosemite National Park
Road Trip GuidesTravel
Hidden Gems: 8 Van Destinations throughout Florida
Is A Class B, Class C, or Super C RV Right for Me?
2023 Thor Motor Coach Quantum Sprinter: Comfortable Living in a Maneuverable Package
Adventure Guide: San Luis Obispo, California
8 Top Ski Slopes in the U.S.A. for Van Lifers
2023 Thor Motor Coach Chateau: Family Adventures Unlocked
Copyright © 2023 Rec Van. All rights reserved. Contact Us. 833-REC-VAN1


Nurse Coaches are experts in lifestyle strategies to help you feel your best.
Partnering with a Board Certified Nurse Coach, restores your vitality, happiness & good health.
Nurse Coaches are Registered Nurses who specialize in lifestyle strategies to help you feel your best.
Nurse Coaches listen deeply to understand your unique needs.
We help you realize your inner wisdom, your strengths, & the possibility to seek & act on your needs, thus enhancing your ability to care for yourself with deep meaning.
Nurse Coaches understand the science of health & the art of truly caring for you as an individual, and we also understand the health care system, so we can help navigate it with you.
A Nurse Coach is a fierce advocate for all things related to you and your health.
Here's a link to an article published in the healthcare industry leader MultiBriefs, titled, Nurse Coaches are Essential to Healing Healthcare and one of our blogs, 9 Things to Expect when Partnering with a Nurse Coach, which shares more about the value of partnering with a Nurse Coach.


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"ISRAEL"
ISRAEL X
SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING (438)
GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING (373)
STAKEOUT (276)
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (209)
SECURITY COUNCIL STAKEOUT (109)
PRESS CONFERENCE (46)
ECOSOC MEETING (14)
SHORT DOCUMENTARY (13)
Unifeed (1075)
UN in Action (12)
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UN / PALESTINE
The United Nation's Middle East envoy, Tor Wennesland, told the Security Council that without a "realistic prospect" of an end to Israeli occupation and the realization of a two-State solution, "it is only a matter of time before we face an irreversible, dangerous collapse and widespread instability." UNIFEED
Geraldine Byrne Nason (Ireland) on the situation in the Middle East- Security Council Stakeout
Geraldine Byrne Nason, Permanent Representative of Ireland, reads a statement on behalf of EU members France and Ireland, joined by former EU member Estonia.
Riyad al-Maliki (Palestine) on the situation in the Middle East- Security Council Media Stakeout
Informal comments to the media by Riyad al-Maliki, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
Various 19-Jan-2022
(Continued) The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question- Security Council, 8950th Meeting
Without prospect of end to occupation, Middle East region faces irreversible, dangerous collapse, Special Coordinator tells Security Council.
Gilad Erdan (Israel) on the situation in the Middle East- Security Council Media Stakeout
Informal comments to the media by Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
Anniken Huitfeldt (Norway) on the situation in the Middle East- Security Council Media Stakeout
Informal comments to the media by Anniken Huitfeldt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, on the situation in the Middle East.
The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question- Security Council, 8950th Meeting
Briefing by Ambassador Mona Juul, President of the Security Council for January 2022, and Permanent Representative of Norway
Briefing by Ambassador Mona Juul, President of the Security Council for January 2022, and Permanent Representative of Norway.
Sudan, Afghanistan & other topics- Daily Press Briefing
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Various 24-Dec-2021
General Assembly: 54th Plenary Meeting (Resumed), 76th Session
Approving $3.12 billion programme budget, General Assembly adopts 26 resolutions, 2 decisions, as main part of seventy-sixth session concludes.