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Reading: Buhari under fierce criticism for appointing APC members as INEC RECs
VoiceofNG > Blog > News > Buhari under fierce criticism for appointing APC members as INEC RECs
Buhari under fierce criticism for appointing APC members as INEC RECs
By Emiee 5 months ago
President Muhammadu Buhari has come under fierce criticism and accused of compromising the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for appointing card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as Resident Electoral Commissioners.
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, through a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the recent nominations of someone it describes as a questionable character with known political affiliation and record of alleged corruption, as unconstitutional, insisting that such nominees should not be confirmed by the Senate.
Recall that the President had on July 26 forwarded the names of 19 INEC REC nominees to the red chamber for confirmation. Five of the nominees were reappointed for a second term of five years while 14 others had new appointments.
However, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations including the Director, International Press Centre, said the nominee from Sokoto was an APC governorship aspirant in 2015 whilst the nominee for Enugu is alleged to be the younger sister of the APC Deputy National Chairman, South-East.
Likewise, the CSOs said the nominee for Imo, a former Head of ICT at INEC in Imo, is infamous for alleged corruption and connivance with politicians to undermine elections whilst the nominee for Ebonyi, a former Accountant-General in Ebonyi State, was suspended on allegations of incompetence and corruption in 2016.
Commenting, HURIWA said, "We align with the positions of our brother CSOs that these persons are unworthy to hold a sensitive position such as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission unless the Federal Government is trying to reward politically prejudiced and allegedly corrupt individuals with sensitive and prestigious appointments.
"The APC government should be reminded of Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended which states that 'a member of the commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.'
"Also, Section 14(3b) of the same Schedule states that 'there shall be for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, a Resident Electoral Commissioner who shall be a person of unquestionable integrity and shall not be a member of any political party.'
"Similarly, Section 156(1(a) of the same Schedule prohibits the appointment of such individuals with questionable character.
"This is not the first time the President will politicise the appointment of INEC officials. In 2020, the President nominated his aide on social media, Lauretta Onochie, as an INEC commissioner to represent Delta State. He later replaced her after an outrage condemning his decision.
"Also, in October 2019, a self-confessed APC member in Osun State, Olalekan Raheem, was nominated as a resident electoral commissioner by the President though the Senate later rejected the nominee.
"The President must not compromise INEC's integrity as Nigeria goes into an election year in 2023. INEC as an electoral umpire must be an apolitical institution with objective individuals with no record of political allegiance.
"Nigerians are watching to see how the APC government intends to smuggle its members into INEC top organs to allegedly circumvent the process in favour of the ruling party which intends to perpetuate itself into power after failing Nigerians in all ramifications."
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Iran and a Nuclear Weapons Ban
By Frederick N. Mattis*
ANNAPOLIS, USA (IDN) - The potential for catastrophe regarding Iran is great. It is Israel, obviously, which most feels and asserts the "threat" of an incipient nuclear-armed Iran. Iran, though, with its animosity toward Israel, is mostly to blame for Israeli alarm at Iran's potential to build nuclear weapons.
Iran denies it aspires to nuclear weapons, and Iran's "supreme leader," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has recently denounced their possession as a "big sin" (Washington Post, February 23, 2012 p. A-8). At various international forums, including the 2010 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] Review Conference, Iran has called for a world without nuclear weapons. On the other hand, Iran has not subscribed to the stricter (and voluntary) inspection protocol that, among other aspects, would give International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] inspectors greater access to "undeclared" sites.
Iran is a non-nuclear weapon NPT member and therefore must and has submitted its fissionable material to IAEA "safeguards" for monitoring and accountancy. The much-publicized main geopolitical problem is that Iran is continuing to enrich, and does not deny it, uranium – purportedly for peaceful use such as electricity and medical isotope production. But if enrichment (in isotope uranium-235), which is technically challenging, successfully produces about 100 pounds of 90 percent-enriched uranium, then a state could easily (even without a test explosion) construct a dependable, relatively simple "gun" nuclear weapon, the type detonated over Hiroshima.
Iran seemingly did, at least according to a 2007 U.S. intelligence report, have an active research program on nuclear weapons that was shut down in 2003. However, many skeptics would argue that Iran is at least "keeping its options open," which if turned concertedly to weapons could escalate rapidly into Iranian possession of a bomb – contingent, of course, for a "simple" gun weapon on Iranian attainment of sufficient weapons-grade highly enriched uranium. (Israel, for its part, has an unacknowledged arsenal estimated at 100-300 modern nuclear warheads.) Regarding its uranium enrichment, Iran correctly avers that the NPT does not prohibit such activity, even to easily weapons-usable levels such as 90 percent. To date, Iran has refrained from enriching uranium to 20 percent, the recognized demarcation beyond which weapons-usability begins to take hold and grow – although for a relatively simple, no test-explosion-needed "gun" weapon, enrichment to 80-90 percent would be required, plus attainment of the relatively large amount of about 100 pounds for just one bomb.
Not only the USA, Israel, Britain, and France oppose the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, but fellow predominantly Muslim states too, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey – which may seek nuclear weapons if Iran attains them. But Iran insists that it is not developing nuclear weapons, and that it is simply exercising its sovereign and NPT-permitted right to develop nuclear fuel (enriched uranium) for peaceful use such as in power and research reactors. Certainly, any attack against Iranian nuclear facilities would be widely condemned as foolhardy and unnecessary so long as Iran continues to restrict enrichment to under 20 percent.
The hope at present is that Iran will cease, or perhaps just drastically curtail, further uranium enrichment, plus clear up some other questions, and continue as a non-nuclear weapon member of the NPT (which stipulates IAEA safeguards on fissionable material) – and be rewarded by easing or lifting of sanctions. But even if this occurred, would it necessarily be durable? Assuming, though, that Iran continues its enrichment of uranium, there are no good options to stop it, with military strikes at least holding these dangers: having just temporary effect, uniting Iranians against the "foe(s)," roiling the oil market, depressing the world economy, and spurring Iranian or Iranian-proxy assaults on Israelis and others. The only enduring solution is a nuclear-weapons free world, because with all states having joined a nuclear ban treaty before it enters into force, none such as Iran would dare violate it – and if it is imagined that they perniciously might, let it equally be imagined that any seeming advantage from nuclear ban "break-out" would obviously be outweighed many times, even on just stark military terms, by united opposition of the rest of the world.
Once undertaken, nuclear ban negotiations by states will probably make good headway, in large part due to existence of the meritorious "Model Nuclear Weapons Convention" (see link to MNWC at www.lcnp.org). This document, originated in 1997 through the efforts of fifty volunteer lawyers, engineers, scientists, physicians, and consultants, will likely reduce by 80 percent or more the time that would otherwise be required to set forth a Nuclear Weapons Convention [abolition treaty] for signature by states. When states come to undertake actual nuclear ban negotiations, there will inevitably come to be additions to or modifications of some of the dozens of MNWC provisions. But the MNWC will be both the broad foundation and the "advanced starting point" for remaining needed discussions by states assembled.
An issue still to be resolved is nuclear ban entry into force. If the basic requirement is "all states," then the enacted treaty [Nuclear Weapons Convention] would have unprecedented geopolitical, legal, psychological, and moral force for compliance – and it would be a true, worldwide "abolition" treaty. Further, such a treaty advisedly would proclaim its applicability "everywhere" (to cover space and other non-state areas), and declare that the prohibition of nuclear weapons and of non-safeguarded fissionable materials applies to "future states," which must promptly, formally join the treaty. This encompassing of future states is unprecedented in a treaty – but justified by the unanimous accession of all extant states before entry into force. (For details of proposed entry-into-force provision, see chapter 3 of "Banning Weapons of Mass Destruction" by this writer.)
Iran, as an NPT non-nuclear weapon party and perennial critic of nuclear weapons, certainly or almost-certainly would join a nuclear ban treaty. When all states have joined and it enters into force, Iran would no longer be a credible threat to develop nuclear weapons, and today's Iran-related nuclear "threat" would be gone – due to the unprecedented geopolitical and related force for compliance of a unanimously joined treaty, and its fairness, i.e., equal treatment of states (with all renouncing nuclear weapons), plus the treaty's benefits to all states and people (removal of various nuclear threats), and the certitude of worldwide opposition to a pernicious violator of the worldwide nuclear weapons ban.
*Frederick N. Mattis is author of "Banning Weapons of Mass Destruction," pub. ABC-Clio/Praeger Security International [ISBN: 978-0-313-36538-6]. [IDN-InDepthNews – March 07, 2012]
The writer's previous articles:
http://www.indepthnews.info/index.php/search?searchword=Frederick%20N.%20Mattis&ordering=newest&searchphrase=all
Picture: Frederick N. Mattis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Genomics Spells the End of 'One Size Fits All' Medicine
Written by Jiqing Hansen on 07/05/2021 . Posted in Life Science, Gene and Cell Therapy.
The same disease can cause different symptoms in different people. The same drug affects everyone differently. COVID-19 has reminded us once again that medicine is not "one size fits all". Breakthroughs in genomics have made it possible to tailor prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to individual levels.
The Seven Revolutions in Healthcare That Will Impact Your Life – Part 1
Within five to ten years, healthcare as we know it may be changed radically. Disruptive technologies such as genomics, artificial intelligence, or 3D printing have already started to have an impact on both patients and healthcare providers. These trends will grow exponentially and will affect our lives in important ways. At Supertrends, we've taken a closer look at the healthcare trends that may come to fruition in the near future. We will be describing these in a series of stories detailing how our lives will be changed by these new technologies – for the better.
From the "US$1,000 genome" to the "US$100 genome"
"The $1,000 genome has long been considered the tipping point that would open the floodgates to this (personalized genomic medicine) revolution" – Kevin Davies, author, founding editor of Nature Genetics [1]
Genomics is the study of our genes, or DNA, and their interaction with our health. In 2003, The Human Genome Project completed the sequencing of the entire human genome. It took 15 years of international efforts and cost US$2.7 billion. The first direct-to-consumer whole human genome sequencing started in 2007 at the cost of UD$350,000. With the invention of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), prices fell to around US$4,000 by mid-2015, and below US$1,000 by 2017.[2] In 2020, Chinese genome sequencing company BGI announced that it was able to sequence the full human genome at a cost of US$100.[3]
DNA sequencing has never been so accessible. Fast and low-cost genome sequencing, combined with our expanding ability in data handling, is driving the shift to precision medicine, a medical approach based on a person's unique genetic data and his lifestyle. This trend is reflected in disease prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment optimization.
Healthcare is moving from cure towards prevention
"The superior doctor prevents illness. The mediocre doctor attends to impending sickness. The inferior doctor treats actual illness." – From a Traditional Chinese Medicine book
More than 2,000 years ago, one of the oldest Traditional Chinese Medicine textbooks already regarded prevention as the ultimate goal of medicine. Today, genomics enables us to take preventive measures long before a disease shows any symptoms. Certain genetic variations may be prone to causing particular health risks. Genomic information can help us to take the necessary steps in protecting our health. When symptoms do occur, genomics plays an increasingly important role in getting a definitive diagnosis and selecting the optimized treatment. Two of the areas where this is already happening are rare diseases and cancer.
A rare disease is a disease that affects fewer than one in 2,000 people. There are over 6,000 known rare diseases. In total, they affect one in 17 people. In the past, patients with a rare disease often spent years unsuccessfully seeking a diagnosis. Now, over 80 percent of rare diseases been found to have a known genetic origin. Genome sequencing has become the most useful tool for doctors to diagnose rare diseases.[4]
All cancers are the result of gene mutations. Doctors used to diagnose cancer by location and cellular type. Genome sequencing of cancer tissues means we can know the exact mutation, providing insight into how an individual patient's cancer may progress, and how it might respond to treatment. Some inherited gene mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, are connected to a higher risk of developing breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Known carriers of these mutations will be able to take preventive measures and monitor the risk more closely.[5]
Pharmacogenomics and gene editing
Back to the issue of why a drug could be highly effective for some people, but toxic for others. The reason why different individuals have different responses to the same drug at the same dose is genetic variation. Some of us have genetic variations that influence the production of enzymes needed to metabolize certain medicines. In these cases, the particular drug may either not work or cause an adverse effect. By testing for these genetic variations, we can select a drug that will work as it should. Pharmacogenomics is a new field that studies how genes affect a person's response to drugs. There are already more than 250 drugs labeled with pharmacogenomic information. With both pharmacogenomic and gene sequencing becoming accessible, medicines will be prescribed based on our genes in the near future. The ideal would be for each patient to get the drug that works most effectively for them, with the least side effects.
"Armed with the complete CRISPR toolkit, scientists can now exert nearly complete control over both the composition of the genome and its output."
― Jennifer A. Doudna, winner of 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Adapted from a genome editing system that occurs naturally in bacteria, CRISPR-Cas9 has quickly become a key technology in gene editing. CRISPR technology is often described as a pair of "scissors" that can cut out a precise segment of malfunctioning DNA and replace it with a piece of good DNA. Gene editing has the potential to treat many genetic diseases and is regarded by some researchers as the ultimate precision medicine.
On 28 June 2021, the first clinical trial of a CRISPR-Cas9 drug infused directly into patients' bloodstream to treat a rare disease was announced to be successful. This means that in the future, many medical conditions related to genetic mutations can be treated with a single highly effective gene therapy, possibly at a reasonable price.[6]
Will whole genome sequencing be included in newborn screening tests?
Newborn babies are tested before they leave the hospital for serious and often genetic diseases. With gene sequencing and gene therapy becoming increasingly accessible and scalable, it is logical to imagine that in the future a genome file will be established for each newborn baby. The genetic information in this file will be used to design a personalized health plan to prevent future diseases, establish accurate diagnoses and optimize treatment plans. At Supertrends, we believe this personalized, preventive healthcare model based on genomics will happen within the next 10 years in developed countries.
There will be, however, ethical, social, and legal challenges in how we use genomic information. Will genetic testing be one of the newborn screening tests? You can share your thoughts about this question and more on the Supertrends Pro app. Click here to trial the app for free and search "Future of Healthcare" on the Supertrends timeline to join the discussion.
Read Part Two: "3D Printing is a Game-Changer in Surgery"
[1] Kevin Davies, The $1,000 Genome: The Revolution in DNA Sequencing and the New Era of Personalized Medicine, (Free Press, 2010)
[2] National Human Genome Research Institute, "Human Genome Project FAQ," accessed June 29, 2021, https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project/Completion-FAQ
[3] Antonio Regalado, "China's BGI says it can sequence a genome for just $100," MIT Technology Review, February 26, 2020, https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/02/26/905658/china-bgi-100-dollar-genome/
[4] NHS Genomics Education Programme, "Rare Disease, genomics and the future," February 26, 2018, https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/blog/rare-disease-genomics-and-the-future/
[5] Bianca Nogrady, How cancer genomics is transforming diagnosis and treatment, Nature 579, S10-S11 (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-00845-4
[6] Karen Weintraub, "'It's a wow': New CRISPR gene-editing success holds promise for treating many genetic diseases with a single dose", USA Today, June 28, 2021, https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/06/26/new-crispr-gene-editing-success-holds-promise-genetic-diseases/5343114001/
Health, Future of Healthcare, Genomics


Session value is null after using Sesssion state insert in Sql Server?
I am trying to insert session data in sql server for that i find some solution in internet and used.
But the issue is in one page i am setting some value in session and after redirect to another page when i am checking the same session value becomes null, But when i checked in my DB value is stored for that session.
in my web.config i have used this session tag with SQLServer mode.
But when i am using the previous session tag with that i am able to get session value in another page.
Below is the Session tag in InProc Mode.
Are you using web farm? In this scenario you need to remove (or comment out) InProc Session tag in your web.config file and leave only SQLServer. Also you need to make sure you have machine key added to your web config and it is the same across all the web farm servers.
I commented InProc session tag already and using only SqlServer session tag in web.config.
and for which machine key are you talking about. Could you please explain something more in this?


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Contact Us My Account Box Office: 01423 502 116
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Harrogate Youth Theatre
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Age 5-7 (Reception - Year 2)
Venue Select Venue Harrogate Theatre Harrogate Studio Theatre HIVE Royal Hall Harrogate Convention Centre Elsewhere
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This group is called 1a, there are up to 20 people in this group. They meet every Saturday during term time 10:45am-11:45am.
They take part in learning a basic grasp of storytelling and performance skills. This group perform in a full-scale production once a year, in the Summer Term. Each performance will be for a large ensemble cast, which means there will always be a part for everyone, with no big or small parts. These shows will either be scripted or devised (created from scratch by the young people).
Our staff will monitor each child's progression over an academic year and encourage a supportive atmosphere. At the end of each term certificates are given to recognise Best Behaviour, Most Improved and Actor Spectacular.
By taking part in Youth Theatre, young people can choose to work towards an Arts Award qualification, accredited by Trinity College London. To achieve their Arts Award, young people take on challenges in an art form, participate in arts activities, experience arts events, get inspired by artists and share their arts skills with others. This age group can work towards the Discover Arts Award. This is not compulsory.
Youth Theatre is run by Disclosure and Barring Service checked theatre professionals with outstanding theatre training and are supported by an assistant.
To register your interest in joining Youth Theatre, please follow these easy steps:
Complete a Registration Form, one per child.
Read and agree to our Behaviour Policy
Return your completed Registration Form to Harrogate Theatre, Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF or email it to hyt@harrogatetheatre.co.uk.
Your child will be allocated a space in the right group for their age and we will contact you with all the information you will need to pay for your child's place. If there are no spaces available, we will add you to a waiting list and contact you as soon as a space becomes available.
If you'd like to talk further contact us on 01423 502 710.
Fees are £70 for a 10-week term. Payment is taken by our Box Office team. We also do a year-long discounted rate at £180 / £110 conc. for an academic year.
All fees are due a week before each term begins. Payments made after this date will be subject to a £10 late payment fee. If you are unable to pay by the payment deadline, you must contact us in writing, so we can make a note on our system and cancel the late payment fee.
If a member no longer wishes to take part in Youth Theatre, you must let us know in writing as soon as possible. If you tell us after the payment deadline date, we reserve the right to charge you for the full term, plus the late payment fee.
If you are entitled to free school meals, are on Universal Credit or any benefit scheme you can apply for the concessionary rate of £40. If you are eligible to receive this reduced fee, you must send us a photocopy/ scan of the relevant documentation. If we do not receive any evidence of your status, then we will invoice you for the balance of your fees for that term.
Managed by Harrogate (White Rose) Theatre Trust Ltd, Registered Charity No. 225342, Registered Office: Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF
info@harrogatetheatre.co.uk, boxoffice@harrogatetheatre.co.uk
Join Our Mailing List * required
© 2021 Harrogate Theatres


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Nicholas Saidel
Israel must free Marwan Barghouti
The jailed Fatah leader has the will and the street cred to lead Palestinians to a two-state solution
Marwan Barghouti in court in 2002 (Flash90)
Rumors are circulating that Mahmoud Abbas, the 80-year-old president of the Palestinian Authority, will soon resign. The individual elected to succeed him will, in large measure, shape Israel's security matrix for years to come. While Israel cannot select Abbas's successor, it can help ensure that this political transition is smooth and leads to an era of peace and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians. Circumstances are such that one move in particular would serve this goal well: the release of Marwan Barghouti from prison.
Currently serving five life sentences for his involvement in the murder and attempted murder of Israeli civilians and soldiers during the Second Intifada, Barghouti carries considerable weight on the Palestinian street. He consistently polls as the top contender to replace Abbas, notwithstanding his imprisonment. His widespread popularity stems, in part, from his resistance to the Israeli occupation. Also, he is regarded as one of the few Palestinian leaders who is not tarnished by accusations of corruption. While many in Israel consider him an arch-terrorist who deserves to languish in jail for for his despicable crimes, there is good reason to believe his release is aligned with the security interests of Israel.
First, releasing Barghouti would strengthen the Palestinian Authority to the detriment of Hamas. The PA is suffering from an erosion of legitimacy due to its failure to deliver on the promises it made to the Palestinian people. Barghouti's high profile release, if carried out in conjunction with the PA, would restore faith in this governmental entity and help prevent its collapse. It would also contain Hamas, which tried and failed to secure Barghouti's release in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner swap. The release of political prisoners is a core concern for Palestinians and Barghouti's imprisonment embodies this issue. Polls indicate Hamas is more popular than the PA in the West Bank, where Hamas wishes to establish a second terrorist enclave from which it can attack Israel. The release of Barghouti would mitigate the risk of a Hamas takeover of the West Bank by reinforcing the PA.
Second, Barghouti is the only potential candidate that can bridge the ever-widening gap between Fatah and Hamas. In this capacity, his release and presumed election will serve two purposes that will enhance Israeli security. It will both hasten the reconstruction of Gaza and likely begin the process of restoring a PA presence there. Israel's national security interests dictate that it must do all it can to rehabilitate Gaza, which will present an increasing security threat as development remains stalled and its economy withers. Gaza may be uninhabitable within five years and there is a growing Salafist (read: Islamic State) presence in the coastal strip, a portent of the extremism to come if progress is not made soon.
Much of the foreign aid slated to rebuild Gaza is contingent upon the return of the PA to Gaza to administer the process and resume control of border crossings. Hamas's demand for Barghouti's release reflects it is not deaf to public opinion and that Barghouti is viewed as less of a threat than Abbas. A government under Barghouti's leadership will probably be allowed into Gaza, which will hasten the redevelopment of the Strip and simultaneously reestablish a PA foothold there. This will diminish Hamas' current absolute power in Gaza and, by necessary implication, Iran's influence as well.
Third, the release of Barghouti would reenergize the currently stagnated peace process and improve the chances of a peace deal based on the two-state solution. As many within the Israeli political and military establishment agree, the greatest national security threat to Israel is not Iran or Hezbollah, but rather the occupation and the consequences thereof. If released and elected, Barghouti's credentials as the symbol and hero of Palestine will make a proposed deal with Israel far more palatable to the Palestinian public than if presented by another Palestinian leader.
Barghouti's release will demonstrate to Palestinians – now on the verge of a Third Intifada — that Israel is serious about negotiations and will take tangible, if somewhat painful, measures for peace. Israel's growing isolation, also a threat to its long-term security, would be curtailed by such a proactive gesture of good faith and would rebuild international confidence in Bibi's intentions. Barghouti's release could also be leveraged to postpone or otherwise slow down unilateral moves by the Palestinian leadership at the UN.
There is no way to erase or excuse the violence attributed to Barghouti during the Second Intifada. However, looking at his life holistically, Barghouti is a political leader not a military one. As former Israeli official Yossi Beilin once said, "Barghouti is not the Dalai Lama or Gandhi… [but] Anybody who is seeking a Palestinian partner who can 'sell' his people on a peace agreement with Israel must concede that Barghouti is one of the few men who can do it." Barghouti is a man with a pragmatic approach to the conflict. He is fluent in Hebrew, speaks to the Israeli media, and at one point reportedly had the phone numbers of half the Knesset. While his statements on the use of violence are contradictory at times and seem dependent on the political climate (e.g. he has in the past called for both unarmed and armed Third Intifadas), he is an unabashed supporter of the two-state solution. Tellingly, in 2013, Barghouti reiterated his longstanding commitment to the two-state solution: "If the two-state solution fails, the substitute will not be a bi-national one-state solution, but a persistent conflict that extends based on an existential crisis – one that does not know any middle ground."
A truism within Israel is that it takes a hawk to make peace. This aphorism holds true for Palestinian politics as well, as the Palestinian public will be more trusting of, and more willing to accept, an agreement signed by a leader utterly immune from attacks as being weak, corrupt or a collaborator with the enemy. Barghouti fits this bill perfectly. He is a hawk, but one who believes in peaceful coexistence with Israel as Palestine's future neighbor. As Barghouti stated in his 2002 Washington Post op-ed, a year after Israel tried to assassinate him: "I still seek peaceful coexistence between the equal and independent countries of Israel and Palestine…I do not seek to destroy Israel but only to end its occupation of my country."
The Israeli government should take advantage of the opportunity now emerging and engage with this dynamic Palestinian leader. Releasing him from prison is the necessary first step. As other commentators observed, if Barghouti is elected while in prison, it will have a "Mandela effect," meaning a marked increase in his international stature and the creation of a public relations nightmare for Israel due to the inevitable external pressure for his release. Instead of releasing Barghouti as a reactionary measure, it is better for Israel to stay ahead of the curve and release him now. Doing so would be to the benefit of Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Nicholas Saidel is Associate Director of the Institute for Strategic Threat Analysis & Response (ISTAR) at the University of Pennsylvania


Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose in September, with faster rises in output, new orders and employment on the back of stronger customer demand.
This was revealed on October 2 by the latest survey from Nikkei's IHS Markit.
The composite indicator of manufacturing performance stood at 53.3 in September, up from 51.8 in August. The reading signalled a solid monthly strengthening of business conditions, with the rate of improvement the most marked since April. The health of the sector has now strengthened in 22 consecutive months.
"The anecdotal evidence has highlighted an improvement in customer demand over the month. This resulted in a sharp and accelerated increase in new business, the most marked in five months. The rate of expansion in new export orders also quickened in September," the Nikkei's IHS Markit reported.
The manufacturing output increased for the 11th successive month, with the latest rise the most marked since April. All three broad sectors saw a production increase, led by consumer goods firms.
Higher new orders contributed to capacity pressures, as signalled by a further rise in backlogs of work. Some panellists also mentioned that staff shortages contributed to the build-up of outstanding business.
Firms responded to greater workloads by increasing their staffing levels. Moreover, the rate of job creation quickened to a six-month high, according to the report.
Manufacturers also used inventories to help fulfill new orders in September. As a result, the stocks of finished goods decreased for the third month running, and to the greatest extent since July 2016.
"A marked acceleration in the rate of input cost inflation was recorded, linked to higher prices for raw materials, including those sourced from China. The increase in input costs was the strongest since May 2011. Rising input prices led firms to increase their output charges in September for the first time in five months. That said, the rate of inflation was modest amid reports of competitive pressures," the report showed.
Higher new orders, and a subsequent rise in production requirements, encouraged firms to increase their purchasing activity at the end of the third quarter. The rate of expansion was solid, and the fastest since April. Stocks of purchases also rose, partly reflective of efforts to build inventory reserves, it added.
Suppliers' delivery times continued to lengthen, albeit to the least extent in the current eight-month sequence of longer lead times.
Finally, manufacturers remained optimistic that the output would increase over the coming year, with positive sentiment linked to predictions of a new growth order and business expansion plans.
"New orders rose markedly, feeding through to faster expansion of output, employment and purchasing activity. Manufacturers are, therefore, well placed to record further growth during the final quarter," said Andrew Harker, associate director at IHS Markit.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Icelandic, an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic sub-group, is the official language of Iceland. It is closely related to Norwegian and Faroese, although there are slight traces of Celtic influence in ancient Icelandic literature. Icelandic is an insular language, and as such, it has not been influenced greatly by other languages. As a result, the language has changed very little from when the country was settled in the ninth and tenth centuries. Because of this resistance to change, texts from the twelfth century are still understandable to Icelandic schoolchildren.
Translate into Icelandic with InText
Our Icelandic language experts
Icelandic is one of the rarest languages in Europe. At the same time, Icelandic language specialists are true professionals, building cultural bridges between Icelandic and other languages of the world.


MIAandMANDY . Stars67. DuoKinky. crisiana.
JostinSimpsonmalyintriguingMelanyOrionXXXLoveCouple33 .AustinMooreLoveCouple33SamantaSwitchBigWowAss .ecobandMarylinMrsDeluxeBootyWolfhoundJessicaSims .Cutebunny1818StrtSexBoyKATHERINXnorthcarolina6 .WildSEXTACCYduoStars67PrettyamatistaSweetsmilez .ChloeXOJostinSimpsonRebecaXX69WhiteLotus19 .SonjaTantranorthcarolina6hotcumerRAMGracefulDoris .ZenStarTeddyWaitUManxUrSweetestSinxPunkpussybithhh .annieshyZenStarPatrikMilkMissLinLace .JessicaBustyTammiLixFreeman61Ayyeeesh .strongangellstefanohotsexBOYSHOTFUNIamRENALYN .
IamRENALYNDollyCherryDIRTYSHOW1MaryRay .KerlinDiazannieshyMelanyOrionXXXdolcebelezza .SweetPantherXCoronelli27strongangellBlondCuteDP .CelineDepphotcumerRAMtenderloverhotCelineDepp .WolfhoundMistressDavinna0erdogancelikValeriaxArteaga .KerlinDiazsharikzvPrincess67SexyGuySlim .SquirterPassionJennyKleinJessicaBustyCutebunny1818 .DominantFeet69Cutebunny1818NiceChaseyFreeman61 .Stars67SquirterPassionbadfetish4u4CRAZYteenBOY .ChloeXOFreeman61GracefulDorisDuoKinky .BlackSexPantheraxUrSweetestSinxRebecaXX69XLDutchy .


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text:
L'immunité diplomatique ou, de façon plus rigoureuse, les immunités diplomatiques, est une protection offerte au corps diplomatique (ainsi qu'aux familles des membres de ce dernier) et aux missions diplomatiques par les États d'accueil qui les ont dûment accrédités dans le but d'assurer l'accomplissement efficace des fonctions des missions diplomatiques et consulaires. Bien que son origine remonte à l'Antiquité, ses principes ont été inscrits dans le droit international de 1961 à 1964 par les conventions de Vienne.

On lui associe en général les privilèges diplomatiques.

Histoire
En Inde, la notion d'immunité apparaîtrait dans les voyages racontés dans l'épopée du Rāmāyaṇa ().

Dans la Grèce antique, les messagers d'un gouvernement étranger ne bénéficiaient d'aucune immunité, et étaient quelquefois assassinés lorsqu'ils portaient des messages qui déplaisaient : ceci a été le cas des envoyés de Darius  exigeant la soumission des cités grecques... et qui ont été noyés à Sparte dans des puits.

Au Moyen-Age, l'immunité diplomatique était garantie par le droit romain mais très difficile à faire respecter dans les faits. Il restait utile de disposer de sauf-conduits de différentes sortes, encore ceux-ci n'étaient-ils pas toujours efficaces.

À la Renaissance, l'immunité diplomatique n'était toujours pas de coutume. Ainsi, en 1538, François  avait fait rouer de coups l'ambassadeur d'Henri VIII, Edmund Bonner, pour son comportement insolent.

En 1709, le Parlement britannique est le premier à instituer l'immunité diplomatique après qu'Andreï Artamonovitch Matveïev, un Russe résidant à Londres, a été victime de violences verbales et physiques de la part d'huissiers anglais.

Cadre légal
L'immunité diplomatique est inscrite dans le droit international par la convention de Vienne du 18 avril 1961 sur les relations diplomatiques (symboliquement, les négociations se déroulent à Vienne en Autriche, ville située sur le rideau de fer) complétée par la convention de Vienne du 24 avril 1963 sur les relations consulaires et les accords de siège passés entre la France et les organisations internationales.

Immunités
Ces immunités peuvent concerner l'agent et sont :
 l'inviolabilité : l'agent diplomatique ne peut être soumis à aucune forme d'arrestation ou de détention même temporaire sauf en cas de flagrant délit ;
 l'immunité de juridiction : l'agent diplomatique jouit de l'immunité de juridiction pénale, civile et administrative, qui a pour effet de le faire échapper à la compétence des tribunaux de l'Etat d'accueil ;
 l'immunité d'exécution : aucune mesure d'exécution ne peut être prise à son égard.

Cette protection s'applique de façon plus ou moins complète à tous les agents diplomatiques, au personnel administratif et technique, aux fonctionnaires consulaires de carrière et à leurs familles d'un pays tiers par un pays hôte pendant leur séjour.

En ce qui concerne les missions diplomatiques :
 l'inviolabilité couvre les locaux officiels (qui ne peuvent faire l'objet de perquisition, saisie ou autre mesure d'exécution) et la correspondance officielle (qui ne peut être saisie), à commencer par les valises diplomatiques ou consulaires (qui ne peuvent être ni ouvertes, ni retenues, ni soumises à des contrôles électroniques ou par rayons X).
 l'immunité de juridiction si l'acte qui donne lieu au litige constitue un acte de puissance publique ou a été accompli dans l'intérêt d'un service public.

Levée de l'immunité diplomatique
Le pays d'accueil peut demander aux autorités du pays d'origine de lever l'immunité d'un de ses agents en cas d'infractions graves.

L'immunité diplomatique ne peut en effet être levée qu'avec l'autorisation du pays dont l'agent diplomatique assure la représentation par l'accord écrit du Premier ministre (ou l'équivalent) contresigné par le  de son pays d'origine.

En revanche, l'article 9 de la Convention de Vienne de 1961 et l'article 23 de celle de 1963 prévoient qu'à tout moment, et sans avoir à motiver cette décision, l'État accréditaire peut informer l'État accréditant que le chef de mission ou tout autre membre de la mission est considéré comme persona non grata.

L'article 44 de la Convention de Vienne sur les relations diplomatiques de 1961 dispose que les privilèges et immunités sont inaliénables, y compris en cas de rupture des relations diplomatiques ou de conflit entre les États (auquel cas l'État accréditant doit fournir une aide logistique au retour des personnes et des biens). Cette mesure ne concerne pas les ressortissants du pays d'accueil qui jouiraient d'un statut diplomatique.

Situation selon les pays

En France
Le gouvernement français étant plus expansif que les conventions ne l'exigent, l'immunité est systématique en France, pour les diplomates, l'ensemble du personnel lié à une représentation quelle que soit sa forme (ambassade, consulat, représentation commerciale...), ainsi qu'à toute leur famille, invités et employés de maison, et ce en toute situation, c'est-à-dire même en dehors de l'exercice des fonctions diplomatiques.

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Corps diplomatique
 Convention de Vienne
 Coursier diplomatique
 Inviolabilité diplomatique
Persona non grata

Liens externes

Diplomatie
Droit international
Diplomatique

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Rome | XXI C Architecture
When in Rome, take a break from the ruins of colossal public buildings, lavishly ornamented palaces, triumphal arches and ceremonial gateways. Leave those magnificent banks of columns sprouting Corinthian capitals behind for a day, and fast-forward through the ages on an Urban Italy 21st-Century Architecture Tour led by one of our resident expert-guides.
Richard Meier's elegant Ara Pacis Museum, an architectural gem completed in 2006 to enclose the ancient sacrificial altar. It's a long, single-storey, glazed loggia, an understated contemporary container for the Ara, and a non-barrier between the monumental mausoleum of Augustus and the bank of the Tiber.
Rome's Museum of Contemporary Art, bright red for the central structure and black all around, but pure white for the exhibition spaces and a glass roof over which water flows.
The MAXXI (Museum of 21-st Century Arts by Zaha Hadid), a cavernous atrium, curving walls, complex volumes and intersecting levels make for a breath-taking sequence of public spaces mostly illuminated by natural light.
Auditorium Parco della Musica, built to a plan by Renzo Piano, consisting of three main halls of conspicuously curvy, sound-box forms, a central outdoor theatre and various other spaces, studios and gardens.
Ponte della Musica (Flaminio Footbridge) by British Powell-Williams Architects and BuroHappold.
Duke's, bar and casual fine-dining restaurant of international inspiration by Nemesi Studio.
Library Pontifical Lateran University at Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano by local studio King Roselli Architetti.
Santa Maria della Presentatzione by Nemesi Studio,
Chiesa del Dio Padre Misericordioso, by Richard Meier, which transformed the anonymous eastern suburb of Tor Tre Teste into an attraction for architecture lovers and faithful tourists.
Testaccio-Ostiense-Marconi area, vibrant, traditionally working-class, industrial and once the site of the slaughterhouse and the city's wholesale markets, it's in line for some hefty redevelopment. Coming up are new premises for theRoma Tre university and a museum of photography among other cultural facilities, while already established are the Musei Capitolini annexe in the old Montemartini power station, Eataly in the ex-Air Terminal at Ostiense station, and a branch of the MACRO in part of the former abattoir, while a six-lane road bridge over the railway tracks, designed by Francesco del Tosto and opened in 2012, makes for faster connections.
Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre by Paolo Portoghesi in the verdant Parioli neighbourhood, the biggest in Europe, is a truly extraordinary thing.
Play mix-and-match with our suggestions here, never forgetting that Rome also has a remarkable heritage of 20th-century architecture.
URBAN ITALY EXCLUSIVE
Milan | Photo Safari Milan | Sunrise


text:
A SOOTHING HAND
"Emily," Martin said, coughing.
"N-n-not quite," came the stuttering reply.
Martin opened his eyes, and wearily rolled his head to the right side.
He saw his cousin, Summer, sitting in a chair.
She actually looked kind of pretty today, dressed in a green dress, which seemed to flatter her lean and tall body.
And, if it weren't for the permanent pissed off expression, or the fact that she had shaved the sides of her head, or that she didn't look very feminine, and instead looked very boyish, kind of like Peter Pan—then she might actually have been beautiful.
"M-m-mom had to work an e-e-e…," Summer stammered. Her face flushing with embarrassment.
"Late, Summer spat out, finally. "S-S-So I'm s-s-stuck b-b-babysitting you."
"Where am I?" Martin groaned. His head felt dopey, and it hurt to talk.
"In t-t-the h-hosp-p-ital," she spat out, adding, "Dumbass."
The sole word she could say without any trouble.
"Where's Emily?" Martin rasped.
"W-who?" Summer asked, innocently, and then she leaned forward, as if sharing a secret. "You m-mean t-that girl w-w-with the f-f-fucked up face? Y-y-you like h-her?"
Summer started to laugh.
Martin wanted to punch his cousin in the throat. He didn't, mostly because it felt like someone had punched him in the throat.
"W-w-what m-makes you think t-that s-she wants anything t-t-to do w-with y-you?" She said, and evil grin on her face.
"Hi Martin," Emily's voice chirped.
Emily walked into the room.
"Summer," Emily said, but Martin couldn't help, but hear the disdain in Emily's voice.
Summer made an ugly face. Then she got up, and silently left the room.
Emily shook her head, and sat down.
She dropped her book bag on the floor.
The bag had a picture of a cartoon bear on it, from some show Martin couldn't remember the name of.
Emily looked beautiful, as she always did.
A brief awkward silence passed between them, and then Emily laughed.
"Oh my god," Emily said, her face almost as red as the scars on her cheeks. "I thought I killed you."
"What?" Martin asked.
"This is going to sound really stupid," Emily said. "But, um, I thought because you didn't get to finish, you know, all your, um, stuff, backed up and, you know, poisoned you or something."
Emily laughed nervously.
Martin thought for a moment, and then said, "No, I think that's scientifically accurate."
"Oh really," Emily said. "That's good to know. Rest assured your balls will always be empty on my watch. I'm sure we can find you a nice, fat, toothless old hag to take care of that for you."
"I didn't known Ms. Gillespie was looking for another job," Martin said.
Emily laughed, and Martin realized that he really liked the way she laughed.
Liked how her head titled back, slightly, and giggled with girlish enthusiasm.
"But seriously," Emily said. "What were you thinking? Why didn't you just go to the hospital?"
"I really wasn't thinking with my big head," Martin said.
"MARTIN ZALL!" Emily said in an exaggerated fashion. "What has gotten into you?"
"Some kind of pain medicine, I think," Martin answered truthfully.
Emily scooted her chair closer to the bed, and awkwardly laid her head on her chest.
"God, it was so horrible," Emily said. "The paramedics had to shove a tube down your throat just so you could breathe right again. And, God Martin, you were so pale, like a ghost."
Martin took a chance, and stroked her head.
She didn't complain, and Martin began to wonder where else he could stroke her.
"My dad had a talk with Billy and Trunk," she said. "I mean it's pretty obvious who did this to you. He couldn't arrest them, though, because…"
"Plausible deniability," Martin gasped.
"Yeah," Emily said. "No witnesses, but my dad put the fear of God into them…well Billy anyway. Trunk is too stupid to be threatened. So, hopefully they won't be bothering you again."
Great, Martin thought, I must look like a complete loser to her.
Emily sat up. Her lips pulling back into a mischievous smile.
"Question," she said, "what was your little head thinking about when you came to visit me last night.
Martin faced flushed red, and he closed his eyes.
"Are you closing your eyes, so you can picture me naked?" She asked, laughing.
Martin felt her hand dropped to his thigh.
A few seconds later, he shifted uncomfortably in his bed.
"Uh oh," Emily said. "Looks like we got a big problem here. Better call Ms. Gillespie. Wouldn't want you to get backed up again."
Martin opened his eyes, and saw Emily both smiling and biting her lip.
She looked adorable.
Emily leaned forward.
Her lips tasted like cherries.
She pulled back, trucking a few strands of her dark hair behind her ear.
She laughed, a shaky nervous laugh.
Martin heard her sigh.
Then her lips sought his again.
They don't stop at just one.
Their kisses are eager, alternating between timid and lustful.
This is the "Getting to Know You" faze of their relationship.
The more intimate faze begins when she pushes her tongue into his mouth.
Their tongues dance, mingling together before finally pulling apart.
Emily pulls away, sighing.
They say nothing, and there is nothing to be said.
Emily's tongue darts across her lips.
She scans the room, and seeing that they are alone, her hand moves forward.
He jumps slightly, as her cold fingers wrap around the bulge of his hospital gown.
"Oh Martin," she cries. Her breath still shaking.
She begins to stroke him.
Her efforts are timid at first, as she is not a practiced hand.
Nevertheless, Martin groans with each stroke. Enjoying the sensation, despite his cock being caught in-between the folds of his hospital gown.
Seeing the effect that she's having on him, Emily increases her pace.
Martin grits his teeth.
He's ready to explode, but is desperately trying to hold back—in part to impress her, but also, because he doesn't wants this to end.
But, try as he might, release is at hand.
He hears Emily yelp in surprise, as a massive load sprays across the front of his gown, and then drips down onto his thigh.
Spent, Martin utters a shaky groan.
"Wow," Emily said, as she wipes her sinful hand on the front of his gown.
"I've never done that with a guy before," she admits, her entire face going red.
"A girl has never done that to me either," Martin confessed.
"So you were gay, before today?" Emily asks, giggling.
"Sometimes I use my other hand, if that counts," Martin answers.
The conversation lulled, and a long awkward silence followed
The awkwardness of teenagers who had just done something very adult, and now were not sure how to feel about it.
Emily broke the tension with a kiss.
The natural reaction, Emily thought, would be to say "I love you."
But, she still wasn't sure how she felt about this strange boy.
He looked so cute, even cuter now without his glasses.
But, Emily could also see why he didn't much success with the girls.
He was too quiet, too shy, and he let people walk all over him.
Worst, or perhaps best (she wasn't sure which), of all he had sad puppy dogs eyes.
But, she could see the hurt in his eyes too.
What happened to you, she wondered.
She could make him better.
They could make each other better.
He smiled up at her, and she shyly returned his smile.
She needed to be closed to him, and so laid her head on his chest again.
He draped a hand on her back.
She felt so warm and safe with him.
Her eyes began to droop, and…
"Emily," a voice called out to her, startling her awake.
"Emily," she heard again, harsher this time.
Emily sat up, rubbing her eyes, and saw her father standing in the hallway.
She looked down at Martin.
His eyes were closed, and it looked like he had also fallen asleep.
"Come on," her father said. "Martin will be home in a couple of days, and you can visit him then.
Emily silently nodded.
She was in no mood to argue with her dad right now.
She got up, and bent over slightly to grab her book bag.
Almost immediately, she could feel his eyes staring at her ass.
She quickly spun around, flashing Martin a sly smile.
"Bye Martin," Emily chirped.
Then a wild idea struck her.
She leaned over him, pushing her chest out slightly for him to get a good look.
"Hope you feel better," she said, almost adding, "Because, I can't wait for you to shove that big dick inside of me.
But, she lost her nerve, and instead kissed him on the forehead.
She stood up, a giant smile lighting up her face.
Emily passed at the door, and briefly waved at Martin, but her dad grabbed her sleeve and gently pulled her out the door.
Martin listened as Emily and her dad walked down the hallway.
"What were you doing in there?" Sheriff Joe asked.
"God, nothing," Emily said. "Just seeing if he was okay."
They disappeared down the hall, and Martin was now alone.
Without Emily there, whatever energy he had quickly evaporated, as whatever pain killers and sedatives they had him on reasserted themselves in his system.
He found himself starting to drift away.
His cousin, Summer, returned at some point.
For some reason, he found himself keenly aware that she held a Romance novel in her hand, probably a recent purchase from the gift shop downstairs.
Groggily, he watched as she sat down, opened the book, and began to read.
Without taking her eyes off the page, she stammered, "Your d-d-dick is h-hanging out of y-y-your g-g-gown, dumbass."
CHAPTER 6: A SUMMER RAIN


text:
The 1973 New Year Honours in New Zealand were appointments by Elizabeth II on the advice of the New Zealand government to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. The awards celebrated the passing of 1972 and the beginning of 1973, and were announced on 1 January 1973.

The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour.

Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)
 The Right Honourable John Ross Marshall  – lately Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Knight Bachelor
 Geoffrey Newland Roberts  – of Wellsford. For outstanding services to aviation.

Order of Saint Michael and Saint George

Companion (CMG)
 Alfred Ernest Allen – lately Speaker, House of Representatives.
 Leonard Poulter Leary  – of Auckland. For valuable services to law.

Order of the British Empire

Knight Commander (KBE)
Civil division
 Robert Alexander Falla  – of Wellington. For outstanding services to conservation.
 The Right Honourable Sir Alexander Kingcome Turner  – of Wellington. For outstanding services as president of the Court of Appeal.

Commander (CBE)
Civil division
 Graham Francis Hall – of Wellington. For very valuable services to medicine.
 William Maxwell Manchester – of Papatoetoe. For very valuable services as head of the Middlemore plastic surgical unit.
 The Honourable William Blair Tennent – of Palmerston North. For very valuable services in politics and education.
 Robert Martin Williams – of Dunedin. For very valuable services to science, administration and education.

Military division
 Air Commodore Ernest Charles Gartrell  – Deputy Chief of Air Staff.

Officer (OBE)
Civil division
 Professor Dennis Geoffrey Bonham – of Auckland. For valuable services to medicine.
 George Cyril Burton – of Wellington. For valuable services to the community.
 Robert Donald Cox – of Auckland. For valuable services to commerce.
 Cecil Lancelot Stewart Cross – of Wellington. For valuable services to sports administration.
 Francis William Dry – of Palmerston North. For valuable services to the wool industry.
 Henry Edward Field – of Christchurch. For valuable services to education.
 Leonard Charles Harrison – of Stratford. For valuable services to the community.
 Henry Charles McQueen – of Wellington. For valuable services to the community.
 The Honourable John Mathison – of Christchurch. For valuable services to politics.
 Robert Richmond Rex. For valuable services to the people of Niue.
 William Newton Sheat – of Lower Hutt. For valuable services to the arts.
 Matiu Te Hau – of Auckland. For valuable services to Māori education.
 Charles Stewart Thomas – of Christchurch. For valuable services to the community.
 George Augustus Walsh – of Tauranga. For valuable services to politics.

Military division
 Commander John Wilfred Harper Fullerton Dickie – Royal New Zealand Navy.
 Colonel Maurice Craig Churton  – Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Territorial Force).
 Group Captain Walter Graham Hughes – Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Member (MBE)
Civil division
 Ronald Gilmour Anderson – of Cheviot. For services to local government.
 John McKay Archibald – of Southland. For services to the community.
 William James Cronshaw Ashcroft – of Havelock North. For services to local government.
 John Harband Brunt – of Nelson. For services to the community, especially the Nelson Harbour Board.
 Stanley Norman Chatfield – of Ōpōtiki. For services to local government.
 David Bartholomew Curry – of Masterton. For services to the community.
 James Riddle Earwaker – of Alexandra. For services to the community.
 Robert Stephenson Jordan Fitzgerald – of Oamaru. For services to medicine and the community.
 James Guy – of Te Kōpuru. For services to the community.
 Enyth Muriel Holdgate – of Auckland. For services to nursing.
 Anirau Miria Karauria – of Mount Maunganui. For services to the Māori community
 Winifred Frances Lysnar – of Gisborne. For services to the community.
 Ivall Moira Macdonald – of Invercargill. For services to the community and especially the Girl Guides Association.
 Shona Graham McFarlane – of Dunedin. For services to the arts.
 Beatrice Annie Matheson – of Raglan. For services to the community.
 Alexander Prentice – of Christchurch. For services to the community.
 Donald David Rowlands – of Auckland. For services to rowing.
 Ronald Henshall Simmons – of Auckland. For services to the community,
 Ernest William Taylor – of Hamilton. For services to the community.
 Waiharakeke Waitere – of Putiki. For services to the Māori community.
 John Anthony Roy Walker – of Otautau. For services to the community.

Military division
 Lieutenant Commander Joseph Grant – Royal New Zealand Navy (Retired).
 Lieutenant Commander William Murton Wheeler – Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (Retired); Sea Cadet Corps, New Zealand Cadet Forces.
 Warrant Officer First Class Jack Colin Cocker – Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Regular Force).
 Major John Lawrence Manning  – Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Territorial Force).
 Captain Philip Richard Robert Rutherford – Royal New Zealand Artillery (Regular Force).
 Warrant Officer Second Class Robert John Whitefield – Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (Territorial Force).
 Squadron Leader Roger Musson Cattermole – Royal New Zealand Air Force.
 Warrant Officer Patrick Christopher Rice – Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)
 Leslie James Davis – of Auckland, lately High Commissioner of the Cook Islands.

British Empire Medal (BEM)

For gallantry
Civil division
 Geoffrey Stewart Barrett – of Wainuiomata. For gallantry shown in seizing an armed murderer in Wellington.

Military division
 Petty Officer Walter Steel Inglis – Royal New Zealand Navy. For gallantry shown in seizing an armed murderer in Wellington.

For meritorious service
Civil division
 Christabel Lenore Bending – of Marton. For services to the community.
 Alice Bent – of New Plymouth. For services to the community.
 Peter Vincent Keown – constable, New Zealand Police Force. For services to the community, particularly search and rescue in the Wānaka area.
 Walter McDougall – of Lower Hutt. For services to the community.
 Eva Marion Rimmer – of Edgecumbe. For services to paraplegics.
 Norman William Rossiter – of Westport. For services to the community.
 John William Roughan – Director of Public Works, Niue.
 Wesley Newsome Stanley – of Hastings. For services to the community.

Military division
 Acting Warrant Radioman Allan Parker – Royal New Zealand Navy.
 Chief Petty Officer Writer David Alexander Seaton – Royal New Zealand Navy.
 Petty Officer Engineering Mechanic Dennis John Stapleton – Royal New Zealand Navy.
 Corporal David Ian Bird – Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps (Regular Force).
 Sergeant Hori Heteri Hokianga – Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Territorial Force).
 Sergeant (Temporary Staff Sergeant) Gilbert Alan Mains – Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Territorial Force).
 Flight Sergeant Eric Stanley Dark – Royal New Zealand Air Force.
 Corporal James Burns Duncan – Royal New Zealand Air Force.
 Flight Sergeant Desmond Bruce Harlick – Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Air Force Cross (AFC)
 Wing Commander Ivor Veitch Mackay – Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Queen's Fire Service Medal (QFSM)
 Gordon Drummond – chief fire service officer, New Zealand Fire Service Council.
 Randolph William McMillan – chief fire officer, Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade.
 Elvyn Francis Quinlan – secretary, United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand.

Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air
 Master Signaller Noel Joseph Crump – Royal New Zealand Air Force.

References

New Year Honours
1973 awards
1973 in New Zealand
New Zealand awards


If you're still playing Metal Gear Online, you're likely very excited to get your hands on the upcoming SCENE Expansion for the PlayStation 3 game. Especially if you love alliteration!
Not only does the SCENE Expansion add Vamp and Raiden to the list of special characters in MGO, it adds punchily named maps like Ravaged Riverfront, Outer Outlet, and Hazard House.
Do stick around for the Robbie the Rabbit-head wearing girl in a bikini and furry pants near the end.


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U.S. sanctions Nicaraguan officials, including Ortega's wife
By Arshad Mohammed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday sanctioned the wife of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and one of his aides under a new executive order allowing Washington to target Nicaraguan officials for a crackdown on anti-government protests.
FILE PHOTO: Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice-President Rosario Murillo greet supporters during a march called "We walk for peace, with faith and hope," in honour of Mons. Oscar Arnulfo Romero, in Managua, Nicaragua, October 13, 2018.REUTERS/Oswaldo Rivas
The U.S. Treasury said it had used the new executive order to punish Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo, Ortega's wife, and an aide it named as Nestor Moncada Lau, accusing them of undermining Nicaragua's democracy.
The step will have the effect of freezing any property owned by Murillo and Moncada Lau that falls under U.S. jurisdiction and of barring U.S. individuals, banks and other entities from carrying out any transactions with them.
The Nicaraguan government "emphatically rejects" the U.S. sanctions, it said in a statement released later on Tuesday, without naming either Murillo or Moncada Lau. The statement added that the measures marked a continuation of U.S. "imperial" designs on the small Central American country.
More than 300 people have been killed and at least 2,000 injured in crackdowns by police and armed groups on protests that began in April over government plans to cut welfare benefits and then escalated into broader opposition to Ortega.
The sanctions, however, may fail to crimp either target's assets due to the lack of a paper trail, said Roberto Cajina, a former advisor to the ministry of defense.
"Neither Rosario Murillo or Moncada Lau have investments in their own names. Everything is done through front men," Cajina told Reuters. "This is not an economic blow. It is a political blow."
U.S. officials said they were trying to influence Ortega, a former Marxist guerilla leader whose response to the protests has been compared to the reign of Anastasio Somoza, the dictator he helped topple in 1979.
"It's a message to President Ortega to find an exit strategy and to begin a process for ... free and fair elections," a senior Trump administration official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "It's an opportunity to find some type of solution ... to the crisis that they have created."
Ortega, who ruled the country from 1979 to 1990, has held elected office as president since 2007. The current violence comes after years of calm and is the worst since his Sandinista movement battled U.S.-backed "Contra" rebels in the 1980s.
Ortega in July rejected the idea of calling a referendum on whether to try to calm opposition against him by holding an early election before the next scheduled presidential election, due in late 2020.
In announcing the sanctions, the U.S. officials accused Murillo of dismantling Nicaragua's democratic institutions and looting its wealth in an effort to consolidate power.
It described Moncada Lau as acting as a national security adviser to both Ortega and Murillo. While he does not have an official position in the government, he is believed to have considerable influence over the police.
In 1997, he was convicted in Nicaragua of transporting dynamite and having unregistered firearms.
Moncada Lau's involvement in intelligence operations with the Sandinista party stretches back to the early years of the revolution in the 1980s.
Additional reporting by Tim Ahmann in Washington and Ismael Lopez in Managua; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, David Gregorio and Richard Chang


The theatrical release date of mega hero Varun Tej's upcoming untitled movie has been confirmed on February 9th, 2018. The producers of the film have formally made an announcement in their official Twitter handle. Actor Venky Atluri is directing this movie which is rumoured to have titled 'Tholi Prema.' Raashi Khanna is pairing with Varun in the movie while SS Thaman is scoring music. SVCC banner is producing it.


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Q: selenium in python : Return the special value
I want to get the number 31 in the shaded blue block here. So, I typed code.
val=driver.find_element_by_xpath("/html/body/div/table/tbody/tr[8]/td[2]")
print(val)

(The xpath of the box marked 31 is /html/body/div/table/tbody/tr[8]/td[2].)
But, I get
<selenium.webdriver.remote.webelement.WebElement (session="3e74d73f7dc4cd9a52b5430b7fa69678", element="0.771890890368685-1")>

What should I do to get the number 31? ^^

A: You're printing the entire element.  An element is a complex object with a lot of attributes and such.  But you really only want the text of the element.
So use:
print(val.text)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Although your own personal dental care is very important, there's more to keeping your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy than just brushing and flossing every day. It's important to come in for regular check-ups so that you can make sure you don't have developing problems that require help.
New patients are always welcome, so call to schedule your dental exam with our pros today!
When you are proud of your smile, it shows. You'll feel better, have more confidence, and most importantly, you'll smile more often!
Give a good impression of yourself by taking care of your teeth with our help.
Rely on us for not just dental care, but your cosmetic dentistry needs, as well!
For over 25 years, people like you have come to Alfred H. Fowler, DDS for their oral health care needs. See why they keep coming back! Come in today to get the best dental care possible!


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Stocked Yarn Service
Custom Yarn Service
Textile Research and Consultancy
Weave Construction
Samples & Trials
Royal Residences
Ceremonial Fabric
Transport Restoration
The Palace of Westminster, The Speaker's House
The Palace of Westminster, The Speaker's House, London.
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. As such the building is commonly referred to as 'The Houses of Parliament'. The current Palace was designed by the architect Sir Charles Barry after an earlier building was ravaged by fire in 1834.
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons. Becoming politically neutral upon election, the Speaker is responsible for keeping order in the house of commons during debates and also represents the commons to the monarchy and in state proceedings. As recognition of the importance of this historical role the Speaker is given use of Speaker's House, a set of grace and favour apartments in the Palace of Westminster, during their tenure. There is a private apartment in which the speaker and their family live and a set of spectacular state apartments for entertaining and receiving distinguished guests.
The Speaker's State Bed & Chamber
The Speaker's State Bed is situated in the State Bedroom and was originally intended for the monarch to sleep in on the night before the Coronation. This is a state room often used for receptions and entertaining, with the grand state bed acting as focal point.
Humphries Weaving created a silk and linen Brocatelle in geranium and gold and also a plain geranium lustring, both used for hangings on State Bed and upholstery for two prie-dieus. A sample of the geranium lustring also forms part of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, textile collection.
The Cavendish Damask is a Pugin design which was redrawn at the Humphries Weaving studio, the Loom on which it was woven had to be specially commissioned and built to accommodate the scale of the design.
Project references: 563 / 517
Silk and wool crimson damask in the same design as the bed for the wall coverings and window drapes of the State Bed Room.
Project reference: 683
Humphries Weaving have also woven a further replacement plain geranium lustring for the State bed counterpane.
Project reference: 1409
Lustring, All Silk Geranium
The Speaker's State Dining Room
The State Dining Room plays host to formal receptions and is a grand entertaining space.
A silk and linen Brocatelle in crimson and gold used for curtains in the State Dining Room. The Pugin design differs from that on the state bed but is in keeping with with Gothic Revival style of the dining room including a set of Pugin designed dining chairs.
The Speaker's Private Dining Room
The Speaker's Private Dining Room is located in the family apartments and is not used for official business and therefore rarely photographed.
As this room forms part of the private apartments it is highly likely that the interior decoration will be revised when each new speaker is appointed.
Cotton and worsted damask in beige and gold for the restoration of the Speaker's private dining room window drapes.
The Speaker's State Apartment Furniture
The Speaker's State Apartment furniture restoration.
All cotton damask in a Pugin design taken from the State Bed decoration, woven in light gold for furniture upholstery.
The upholstery on this furniture was later replaced, in the same design but woven in an all cotton crimson.
The Speaker's Cloisters and Library furniture
The Speaker's Library Cloisters and Library furniture upholstery.
The same all cotton damask construction and design is used for the furniture upholstery in both spaces but in different colours to create a subtle point of difference.
The cloisters furniture is in pale pink and cream whilst the furniture for the library is in gold and cream.
Project reference Clositers: 1293, Library: 1295
Click here to explore our fabric used for The Queens Throne in The House of Lords, within the Palace of Westminster.
Video Tour of Speakers House
UK Parliament, Palace's Interiors
Date:July 7, 2014
Projects completed for Royal Residences
Hillsborough Castle
The Brighton Pavilion
Frederiksborg Castle
The Humphries Weaving Company Ltd.
Ashburton Lodge
64 Cornard Road
Suffolk, CO10 2XB
fabrics@humphriesweaving.co.uk
A Mackman Group collaboration - market research by Mackman Research | website design by Mackman


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Meghan Markle, Prince Harry: 'Biggest dangers' to their relationship revealed
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex kept their relationship a secret for half a year before going public.
By Jaskiran Kaur
September 10, 2019 09:53 BST
All may not be rosy in Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship before marriage. As per a report, the couple had to overcome a huge potential danger before they decided to go public with their romance.
The Duke and the Duchess of Sussex were blessed with a baby boy, Archie Harrison in May and also celebrated their first marriage anniversary the same month. In a very short time, they have become a much-admired royal couple across the globe and have a huge fan following. However, people aren't aware of how their relationship survived. The royal couple faced many challenges and risks before they even tied the knot.
Truth be told! The duchess didn't receive a very warm welcome in the family because of her previous marriage and her association with Hollywood. The couple was compelled to keep their relationship under the wraps for a long time when they started seeing each other.
There was a "big danger" looming over couple's relationship, entertainment reporter Ashley Pearson spilled the details in a 2019 Amazon Prime documentary. The documentary titled "Harry and Meghan: When Two Became Three" revealed that they were uncertain of their relationship's future and that's why kept it a secret.
At the time, the mom-of-one had a promising Hollywood career and Harry being a royal, both had a lot at stake. "One of the big dangers of their relationship was that there would be a host of publicity and host of press and then the two of them would break up," said Pearson as quoted by Express. She added how they both were haunted by this "relationship that was never meant to be."
It is believed that the two had a "whirlwind" romance before they got engaged in November 2017. Though it didn't take Harry and Meghan too long to understand that they were in it for a lifetime, but they remained cautious about going public.
The couple met each other through a mutual friend and were quick to establish a romantic connection, despite the distance. At the time, Harry was residing in the UK and the former "Suits" star was in Canada. They completed three years together, this summer.
Meanwhile, a royal expert from New Idea suggested that the three-year milestone is very crucial for the Sussexes. The couple has moved out of the "limerence phase" coined by relationship psychologists. This is the time when their relationship begins, and they deal with realistic elements.
According to royal experts, the baby will play a significant part in the couple's relationship that might be going through a "very, very hard" time. However, their relationship is deemed "stronger than most" by the experts.
Related topics : Meghan Markle Prince Harry


To conduct research or assist others to conduct research that will develop a greater evidence base to the use of assistive and rehabilitation technologies.
Development of Musculoskeletal models which DO properly characterise spasticity?
What are patient's experience of the Prosthetic/Orthotic care they receive?
Can we design a truly affordable and portable force apparatus for use in the field.
Visualisation of Biomechanical data for Therapeutic Intervention.
Can Prosthetic Prescription be made more standardised?


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He'll be the second Democratic candidate in the space of a week to visit Minnesota.
Adam Uren
Beto O'Rourke, Facebook
More details have been released about Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke's visit to Minnesota this week.
The Texan, who ran last year in the U.S. Senate race in his native state, narrowly losing to Ted Cruz, will fly into the Twin Cities on Wednesday.
He'll first head south to Lakeville, where a meet-and-greet event is planned at Angry Inch Brewing at 20841 Holyoke Avenue between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
From then, he'll head to Edison High School in Northeast Minneapolis, where he will hold a town hall between 6:10 p.m. and 7:40 p.m.
O'Rourke is the second prominent Democratic candidate to head to Minnesota this week, which follows Pete Buttigieg attending a fundraiser in St. Paul and a rally at the Fine Line in Minneapolis this past Thursday.
The latest Democratic primary polls have O'Rourke in 5th place in the presidential primary running, while Buttigieg is in 4th.
Former vice president Joe Biden has the most support so far, per the polls, with CNN noting he has a 24-point lead over his nearest rival, Bernie Sanders, who is followed by Elizabeth Warren.
O'Rourke is followed in the polls by Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar.
Follow Bring Me The News on Google News for the latest stories
democrats2020 Presidential Racepolitics
After fire destroyed their house, couple forced to euthanize beloved dog
The couple's daughter has launched a fundraiser for her parents.
Investigation after teacher accused of lewd act during distance learning
No charges have been filed yet and the staff member has not been identified.
What did Amy Klobuchar reveal at her CNN town hall?
The Minnesota senator took questions from citizens in New Hampshire.
Pete Buttigieg pays Twin Cities a visit, with Beto O'Rourke on his way
The presidential candidates have made a beeline for Minnesota.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren holding Twin Cities town hall on Monday
Warren will hold a town hall at Macalester College Monday.
Klobuchar will do town hall on Fox News
It could be a chance for the 2020 hopeful to reach conservative-leaning voters directly.
What did Amy Klobuchar say during the Democratic debate?
She joined her presidential rivals for the live debate on Thursday evening.
5 key takeaways from Klobuchar's town hall
The Monday event included an awkward viral moment, and some serious climate talk.
Amy Klobuchar announces first 4 campaign stops
She'll start off in Wisconsin this Saturday.
Klobuchar seeks to stand apart from her Democratic rivals
She's been describing what makes her different from the rest of the field.


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Understanding PANDAS
Understanding PANDAS/PANS
What is PANDAS/PANS?
Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) occur after an infection, most commonly a strep infection. Brain inflammation occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy brain cells, leading to autoimmune processes that affect central nervous system function. An affected child generally has a sudden, dramatic change in personality, displayed as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, tics or other abnormal movements, personality changes, decline in math and handwriting abilities, sensory sensitivities, restrictive eating and more.
PANDAS/PANS is being increasingly recognized as a form of autoimmune encephalitis (AE)—more specifically post-infectious basal ganglia encephalitis (BGE). There are a variety of forms of AE, and they should be considered in a differential diagnosis to PANDAS/PANS. Symptoms can cause serious debilitation and extreme neurological changes in AE, including seizures and/or problems with balance, speech or vision. Psychiatric symptoms also occur and can include aggression, inappropriate or compulsive behaviors or fear. In general, testing for clinical features of AE includes testing for autoantibody markers in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)—but because this is a new field of treatment, CSF can be negative for aberrant, disease-inducing illness. This is why research is developing rapidly for PANDAS/PANS or BGE and all other forms of AE in major medical centers around the world.
To better understand the spectrum of PANDAS / PANS and autoimmune encephalitis (AE), watch this brief video from psychiatrist Dr. Barbara Hale-Richlen.
Signs and Symptoms of PANDAS/PANS
The severity of symptoms and the onset of PANDAS/PANS can vary from patient to patient, but the symptoms usually present suddenly and intensely. Symptoms can get better and then get worse again, presenting in what's known as an episodic manner.
Possible PANDAS/PANS symptoms can include:
Sudden, acute onset of OCD.
Restrictive eating habits.
Irritability or aggressive behavior.
Extreme moodiness or depression.
Deterioration of motor skills.
Tics and unusual movements.
Visual or auditory hallucinations.
Sensitivity to light, sound and touch.
Sleep disturbance or fatigue.
Diagnosing PANDAS/PANS
PANDAS/PANS is a rare and lesser-known disorder, and doctors often mistake it for other conditions. The best way to get a diagnosis is to meet with a specialist. A doctor will make a clinical diagnosis based on testing for infectious triggers, together with signs, symptoms, medical history and laboratory findings that rule out other known neurological or medical disorders. Providing a thorough medical history and description of symptoms can help aid the diagnosis.
PANS criteria include sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or severely restricted food intake. Two of the following seven criteria are also required to make a diagnosis:
Emotional lability (mood swings) or depression.
Irritability, aggression or oppositional behavior.
Behavioral (developmental) regression.
Sudden deterioration in school performance.
Motor or sensory abnormalities including tics or involuntary movements.
Somatic signs and symptoms, like sleep disturbances or bedwetting (enuresis).
PANDAS is a subcategory of PANS. This was an earlier research definition used to explain a Group A strep-related infectious onset. PANDAS has five distinct criteria for diagnosis:
Abrupt onset of OCD, or dramatic, disabling tics.
An episodic symptom course, or relapsing-remitting course of severity.
Pre-pubertal onset.
Presence of neurologic and neuropsychiatric abnormalities.
Occurrence of a strep infection before symptom onset.
Treating PANDAS/PANS
When treated in a timely fashion, PANDAS/PANS appears to be stopped and potentially cured with prompt immune modulation interventions. Some children continue to relapse and require additional testing. Research following children over the years into adulthood is underway to ascertain this evidence. It is known that early treatment of PANDAS is important to reduce the duration and intensity of a patient's symptoms. Untreated, PANDAS/PANS can cause permanent psychological and neurological issues.
When treating PANDAS/PANS, it is important to get rid of strep infection or other infections completely. Exposure to illnesses from family and friends needs to be avoided while the child is healing. Antibiotic treatment can cure a current strep infection, and used as prophylaxis can prevent new infections while simultaneously calming the autoimmune processes affecting the brain. Strep or other infections can reoccur while healing, and PANDAS/PANS episodes tend to get longer and worse after each infectious recurrence. Therefore, diligence to prevent infections while healing is important. Once healed and infections eradicated, the child usually develops a normal autoimmune response and no longer has symptom flares.
Methods of treating PANDAS/PANS may include:
Antibiotics to treat and prevent strep or other bacterial infections
Antiviral if viral infections are persistent
Intravenous immunoglobulin treatments
Plasmapheresis (Apheresis) or Plasma Exchange (PEX), a process during which the harmful autoantibodies are removed from the blood system
Steroids, which can reduce the inflammation occurring in the child's brain
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy where the chronic infection is reoccurring
Cognitive behavioral therapy and/or exposure and response prevention
FAQs About PANDAS/PANS
Looking for more information about PANDAS/PANS or the PANDAS Network? Explore frequently asked questions about these disorders and ways to get help.
Browse Our FAQs >
Help us continue to support the children and adults living with PANDAS/PANS.
Support research and critical support for families.
Help us spread awareness about PANDAS.
Reach out to our team to learn more about PANDAS.
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