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Former MI-6 spy revealed as author of Trump dossier
Mpelembe > World > Politics > US Elections > Former MI-6 spy revealed as author of Trump dossier
January 12, 2017 US ElectionsBusiness, BuzzFeed, Christopher Burrows, Christopher Steele, Climate change skepticism and denial, Country: United States, Crossfire Hurricane, Democratic National Committee cyber attacks, Donald Trump, Donald Trump presidential campaign, Government, International relations, Jeb Bush, Mike Pence, Paris, Politics, Politics by country, Politics of the United States, president, Russia, Russia–United Kingdom relations, Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, Steele, Steele dossier, Surrey, The Apprentice, Trump, U . S . Federal, United Kingdom, United Kingdom–United States relations, United States, Washington, DC, WWE Hall of Famesmbale
Former British Intelligence agent Christopher Steele is believed to have written a dossier on compromising material Russian operatives allegedly had collected on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
WOKING, SURREY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 12, 2017) (BBC) – Christopher Steele, who wrote reports on compromising material Russian operatives allegedly had collected on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, is a former officer in Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, according to people familiar with his career.
Former British intelligence officials said Steele spent years under diplomatic cover working for the agency, also known as MI-6, in Russia and Paris and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
After he left the spy service, Steele supplied the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with information on corruption at FIFA, international soccer's governing body.
It was his work on corruption in international soccer that lent credence to his reporting on Trump's entanglements in Russia, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
Steele was initially hired by FusionGPS, a Washington, DC-based political research firm, to investigate Trump on behalf of unidentified Republicans who wanted to stop Trump's bid for the GOP nomination. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that Steele was initially hired by Jeb Bush, one of Trump's 16 opponents in the 2016 Republican primary. It was not immediately possibly to verify the BBC's report.
Steele's dealings with the FBI on Trump, initially with the senior agent who had started the FIFA probe and then moved to a post in Europe, began in July. However, Steele cut off contact with the FBI about a month before the Nov. 8 election because he was frustrated by the bureau's slow progress.
The FBI opened preliminary investigations into Trump and his entourage's dealings with Russians that were based in part on Steele's reports, according to people familiar with the inquiries.
However, they said the Bureau shifted into low gear in the weeks before the election to avoid interfering in the vote. They said Steele grew frustrated and stopped dealing with the FBI after concluding it was not seriously investigating the material he had provided.
Steele's reports circulated for months among major media outlets, including Reuters, but neither the news organizations nor U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been able to corroborate them.
BuzzFeed published some of Steele's reports about Trump on its website on Tuesday but the President-elect and his aides later said the reports were false. Russian authorities also dismissed them.
Associates of Steele said on Wednesday he was unavailable for comment. Christopher Burrows, a director and co-founder of Orbis with Steele, told The Wall Street Journal, which first published Steele's name, that he could not confirm or deny that Steele's company had produced the reports on Trump.
British media reported on Thursday (January 12) that Steele had left his home in Surrey, southern England after realising his identity would be revealed.
← Moscow's Ritz Carlton Hotel named in Trump dossier – reports Former England manager Taylor dies, aged 72 →


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Police in Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, said Sunday they have arrested a 50-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of attempted murder after he hit his mother on the head with a hammer.
According to police, Kazuo Kanazawa attacked his mother, who is in her 80s, at around 7 p.m. Saturday at their home, Fuji TV reported. He then called police.
Police found the woman unconscious in her first-floor bedroom. She was taken to hospital where she remained in a critical condition Sunday. Doctors said she suffered a fractured skull.
Police said Kanazawa, who is the victim's eldest son, has admitted to the crime but has so far given no motive.
50 years old and still living with mom who is in her 80s. No good reason what so ever to use a hammer to hit an 80+ old lady in the head or any other part of her body. Well here's another unemployed guy committing a violent act on a family member. Hope she pulls through.
Rewind and repeat - An unemployed man in his 40's to 50's living at home with his parents attack's them. So, should we speculate about motive? She wouldn't give him money for Pachinko? Or, she didn't put enough sugar in his cornflakes this morning.
Umm...not an uncommon thing here really. There is plenty missing from the article, and it is an assumption too that they are living together as there is nothing specifically noted in the article that says he IS living with her, but it wouldnt be surprising.
My wife and I moved back home to take care of her parents for nearly 20 years, from their mid-60's onward, because both were in poor health.
We dont know the details.
That's quite a biased thing to say and quite possibly also inaccurate. Rather than "still" living with his mom itmay be that he moved back to live with her because she needed care and assistance. I know quite a few people who took early retirement and moved in with their elderly parents to look after them. Even if that's not the case, multiple generation households are very common and very acceptable in Japan and many other countries.
Educator60 ; I understand moving back in with your parents to care for them, sure why not. But you don't need to a Hammer in hand and beat your mother in the head if your living with her in order to care for her. Talk about elderly abuse.


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A Turkish woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Ankara Turkey, Sunday, (Burhan Ozbilici)
Amid unrest and scandal, Turkey holds crucial local elections
The elections are widely seen as a referendum on P.M. Erdogan's tumultuous rule
March 30, 2014 10:06PM (UTC)
Turkey on Sunday was awaiting the results of local elections in which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has had a central role even though his name wasn't on the ballots.
The elections are widely seen as a referendum on Erdogan's tumultuous rule of more than a decade, and the prime minister has been campaigning as if his own career were on the line.
High-profile races for mayor of Istanbul and Ankara with incumbents from Erdogan's Justice or Development Party, better known by its Turkish acronym AKP, will be watched closely for signs of whether his influence is waning. The Turkish elections board says more than 50 million people are eligible to vote.
Voter turnout appeared to be strong, with people forming long queues at polling stations. Although quality polling is hard to come by in Turkey, it is widely expected that the AKP will outstrip opposition parties Sunday, winning a plurality of the vote.
But how much of a plurality will matter. Erdogan's party has already been trying to lower expectations. His party has pointed to the 39 percent they received in the 2009 local elections as a benchmark.
Erdogan and his party have dominated Turkish politics over the past decade in a period of great prosperity. The party came to power backed by a pious Muslim base looking for greater standing in a country that had favored a secular elite. But AKP, whose party symbol is a light bulb, has also cultivated an identity of pragmatism and competency.
That image has been rocked by a corruption scandal, with a series of leaked tapes bringing down four ministers with revelations of bribe-taking and cover-up. One tape allegedly involves Erdogan and family members, but he and his allies have rejected the allegations as a plot orchestrated by followers of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former Erdogan ally who has split with him.
Erdogan has been suggesting at rallies of hundreds of thousands of supporters that the election will let the people decide if the tapes are significant.
"What the people say goes," Erdogan said after casting his ballot. The people's decision is (to be) respected."
MORE FROM Associated Press
Ankara Corruption Elections Europe Istanbul Recep Tayyip Erdogan Referendum Turkey Unrest
Check out this article! https://www.salon.com2014/03/30/amid_unrest_and_scandal_turkey_holds_crucial_local_elections/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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This page was last modified on 8 June 2008, at 06:10.


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Gasherbrum in local language means "Shining Wall". There are six peaks in the cluster Gasherbrum: Gasherbrum 2 (8035 meters/26,361ft), with a summit pyramid is the second highest peak among the Gasherbrum Peaks. Gasherbrum II (also known as K4) is the 13th highest mountain on Earth, located in the upper Baltoro region bordering China and the north face assessable from China. Gasherbrum 2 is the third highest peak of the Gasherbrum massif, located in the Karakoram Range of the Himalaya.
Climbers have described it as an impressive but achievable peak, much like Cho Oyubut with a gradual walk up the Baltoro Glacier to its BC that is said to be the best trek in the world. Its climb provides not too hard and a perfect mountaineering experience for Himalaya beginners. G II stands in the majestic neighborhood of Karakoram giants like and K2 in a close line-up of world's highest peaks in the amphitheater of Concordia that has no parallel in the world. In 1889-1929 an international expedition headed by the Swiss G.O. Dyhrenfurth studied possible ways to the top of the Gasherbrum II and got to 6250m on the south flank. On July 8, 1956 the first ascent via the southwest spur was made by an Austrian expedition headed by F. Moravec. Fritz Moravec along with Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart from a bivouac at 7700m via the east spur to the summit on 7th.
The snowy of the South West Ridge presents considerable difficulties on ice and snow mixed faces ridges once you are above the most complex glacial plateau after negotiating the heavily crevassed Gasherbrum Glacier. It is a steep way up at some sections as we continue climbing on a series of ridges and reach a platform where camp 2 is generally set up around 6400m. From here we climb a couple of icy pitches and then up the … face going steeper before you reach the site of C3 at 7490m. After three easy pitches from there get to a diagonal way across the face from where a traverse leads to the base of the summit pyramid on theEast Ridge. The climb from there is straight on a wide-open snowy face with glorious surroundings but a few steep sections before you reach the narrow summit ridge.
Arrival in Islamabad assist and transfer to hotel.
Morning drive for briefing back to hotel.
Day 03 Islamabad -Skardu/Chilas:
Skardu/Chilas Fly to Skardu. In case of cancellation of flight drive to Chilas (480 km).
From Skardu to Askole (3000m) By jeeps drive to Askole-7 hrs.
Day 06-13 Trek to G-II Base Camp.
Day 44-49 base camp – Askole:
Day 50 Skardu – Islamabad/Chilas:
Islamabad/Chilas Fly to Islamabad. In case of flight cancellation drive to Chilas.
Day 51 Chilas – Islamabad:
Islamabad Leisure day at Islamabad. In case of driving, complete rod journey from Chilas to Islamabad.
Islamabad Farewell meet. Transfer to airport for your return flight home.


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La graineterie Roux de Carpentràs, fundada el 1907 en el número 34 del carrer de Bel Air a Carpentràs (Valclusa, França), és un exemple excepcional de la indústria del comerç de llavors, que compta avui que cinc institucions d'aquest tipus a França, dues de les quals estan classificades com a monuments històrics (un a Carignan i l'altra, una granja monàstica del , a Blois). Des del 9 de setembre de 2005, l'edifici està catalogat com a Monument històric. Aquesta graineterie (botiga de llavors) està en funcionament des del 1919.

Vegeu també

 Llavor

Edificis de la Valclusa
Monuments històrics de Provença-Alps-Costa Blava
Carpentràs

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Home > Newsletters > October 2015 Newsletter
PostedMonday, 12th October, 2015
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WOW, what a month September has been! Of course, the big news was our inaugural City to Sea 53 event on September 5th and the Festival of Fun at its finish on Babbacombe Downs. But there has been lots more going on too.
The City To Sea and Festival of Fun
On Saturday 5th September over 200 people made their way to Exeter to run or walk back to Babbacombe via a challenging 23 or 53 mile road and coastal route. The full story and photos from the day can be found in a special edition of our newsletter here.
So far, the event's have raised over £14,500 for the Charity and sponsorship money is still coming in. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who competed, who helped on the day, who sponsored an aspect of the event, who sponsored participants or who took part in any way at all. It was an incredible day and it will be back on Saturday 3rd September 2016 with a 53 mile ultra marathon route and a full marathon replacing the 23 mile route.
A big thank you to the team from Child Friendly Matters who attended our Festival of Fun and kept the kids entertained with crafting and face painting. Not only did they provide lots of fun and smiles but they raised a fantastic £201.75 for us on the day.
Are you inspired by our runners?
If you are inspired by the runners who took part in the City to Sea events you may be interested to know that we have just started a new intake in our Run THHN beginners running club. The club is led by our Fundraising Manager and qualified coach Brian Lewis. The club is a great way to introduce yourself to running and get you off the sofa! It's not too late to join. For more details email: brian@thhn.co.uk or join the Facebook group
Tough Mother and Daughters
A huge thank-you to Stacie Whitehead who completed the Tough Mudder to raise money for THHN on September 27th. Stacie ran a gruelling 12.5 miles with 20 obstacles, including electrocution, ice baths, tunnels, mud, huge walls, mud and more mud!! Inspired by their mum, Taylor Jade (aged 10) and Imogen (7) joined in with the Mini Mudder to help raise more funds. So far they have raised a fantastic £230. You can add to their sponsorship at www.justgiving.com
Ollie's 30 Mile Challenge
Last month we caught up with Ollie Hill who had taken on an amazing fundraising challenge. Ollie decided he was going to raise sponsorship by running 30 miles in the school holidays, he originally was planning to run just one mile at a time, but was enjoying it so much, that on the last couple of runs he ran 4 miles each time. He has now finished his miles and he aised a fantastic £218 in the process. Memory Maker flew in to our THHN Memory Makers Children's Charity Shop to meet Ollie, receive his cheque an present him with a fundraising medal.
Lily and Poppy Cycle Challenge
Another update on a story from last month, Lily and Poppy completed their cycling challenge, with Lily cycling 100 miles and Poppy 50 mils, together they raised £184. Our Fundraising Manager Brian went to Warberry Primary school to give a talk about THHN to the school assembly and after being presented with a cheque from the girls, he gave them a fundraising certificate and medal each.
Dan's Lands End to John O'Groats Challenge
A huge heartfelt THHN thank you to the amazing Dan Tisdall, who completed the gruelling cycle ride from Lands End to John O'Groats. Dan completed the 960 mile cycle in 9 days, covering 23 counties and cycling for 10 hours a day. Dan said of his epic journey "This was a truly amazing experience raising money for a brilliant charity. " Dan has raised over £1,720 and you can sponsor him by following this link.
The Cycling Accountants
Another huge bike challenge took place in September. Staff from Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants offices embarked on their challenge, during September which saw them cycling between their various offices, a distance of 325 miles in total. The Torquay office very kindly chose THHN as their charity and, so far, have raised over £2,600 for us.
Pharmacy Charity Day
A huge thank you to all the lovely staff at Day Lewis Pharmacy in Wellswood, Torquay, who presented THHN founder Luke Tillen with a cheque for £646.00 from a charity day held in their store.
Were You a Winner?
Thank you to all those that entered our Prize Raffle, the top three tickets were drawn by an independent person. We are pleased to announce the winning tickets for the top three prizes.
1st Prize £750 Ticket 30490
2nd Prize Weekend Break in London Ticket 31047
3rd Prize Two Night Hotel Break Ticket 31206
A big thank you to Babbacombe Garage, Cavendish Hotel in London, Bay Hotels and First Great Western.
Our Palm FM Local Hero
Well, he's a hero for everyone who has been touched in anyway by THHN already but it's lovely to see him recognised as such. On Saturday 19th September, THHN Founder and Director, Luke Tillen, was presented with the Palm FM Local Hero – Most Influential Male/Female Award.
Very apt when Luke has persuaded and inspired so many individuals, groups and businesses to contribute to his vision to help families affected by serious illness and bereavement by giving them a free fun filled holiday, so they can gain some memories to treasure forever.
Luke writes;
"Last Saturday evening I had the huge honour of being presented with the Palm FM Local Hero – Most Influential Male/Female 2015 Award! I always feel very awkward and embarrassed when receiving praise, as it is not why I do what I do. THHN would not exist without an army of incredibly passionate people and businesses, supporting and driving it forward, to help provide as many families as possible affected by serious illness and bereavement, with free fun filled memory making holidays! So this is as much for you as it is for me – a huge heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you!
I am truly humbled and honoured to be likened to all of the amazing finalists at the event – incredible people, every single one of them! A big thank you to Anais Thorn for nominating me and to all of you who took the time to vote. Finally a huge thank you to the Palm team for their super generosity and hospitality, in providing an inspirational event.
A big thank you to all involved, your hard work will help us help more families affected by serious illness and bereavement, with free fun filled memory making holidays! So this is as much for you as it is for me – a huge heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you!"
This month we have welcomed families to stay with our good friends at Vomero Holiday Apartments in Torquay, Pilgrims Rest Holiday Cottages and our Memory Maker Caravan in Chudleigh. Both families were referred from the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity. Our huge thanks go to the owners of these resorts, as well as all our hotel and accommodation owners who have donated holidays this summer season.
A huge thank you to our business supporters Halletts the Bakers, Riverford Home Delivery, Claire's Cakes, Westcountry Fruit Sales, Luscombes Butchers of Torbay and Teddy Mountain UK, who have all donated super food hampers and gifts for the families to enjoy and, as always, to every single business who donates elements of the holiday.
Do you drink Tassimo?
Our fiends at Terracycle are collecting empty Tassimo pods for recycling and can get money back us as their nominated charity. They have already collected over £120 and need a last push before the end of October and see if we can increase this total. Just drop off your empty pods at the shop (counted if you have the time). See www.terracycle.co.uk for more information.
AT-A-GLANCE DIARY
2 yrs ago - Newsletters


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Employee Counselling
Gender Neutral School Uniforms
I've been reading about a school who has introduced a 'gender neutral' uniform; much to the frustration of pupils and parents. I share their frustration, not because I am not in favour of gender neutral uniforms but because I am not in favour of imposing gendered clothing on anyone. Essentially what this school has done is remove skirts from the uniform, allegedly in support of trans students, so all must wear trousers originally allocated only for boys. Perhaps what would be truly inclusive would be to have a set uniform with items being selected by individuals as required. This would enable any student who wishes to wear a skirt to wear one, including trans students. Similarly regarding trousers.
As a society, what is so frightening or challenging about a boy, someone who is non-binary, trans or is exploring their gender identity wearing a skirt? Might it be a thread to an era where male dominance was more visible? When and why has it become acceptable for girls/women to wear trousers but not acceptable for boys/men to wear skirts? During and after the war, women were drafted into roles traditionally held by men and so it became acceptable for women to wear clothing more appropriate for the role. Men haven't been drafted en mass into roles historically assigned to women so the equivalent in relation to clothing hasn't happened. Also, it might be that society can tolerate the idea of a women 'wanting to be or be like a man' but struggles to comprehend why a man might 'want to be or be like a woman'.
Gender is much more nuanced than simply assessing genitalia and we could better support our young people by modelling inclusivity and respect irrespective of identity, race, religion, disability etc. Approximately 1.7 – 2 % of the population are intersex (replicated within the student population) (Hines & Taylor 2018). To not include intersex students would be statistically akin to saying all pupils with red hair have to assign themselves to a blonde or brunette category because we don't cater for 'red'. In addition, at least 0.4% of the UK population identify as non-binary when given a choice of male, female and non-binary (which included a number of specific identities) (practicalandrogyny.com).
For some, the gender assigned to them at birth simply doesn't fit. For some, it's clear from an early age and for others it takes time to reach a conclusion. There are many possibilities regarding gender identity but it's important to include non-binary and intersex identities for whom trying to fit into a binary category simply doesn't work and these are groups that get further marginalised and erased by referring only to binary trans identities. At worst this has the potential to generate internalised shame and subsequent mental health problems. At best it can make school life far more challenging than it needs to be.
True equality is about facilitating choice/preference rather than imposing our choices/preferences on others. The latter is called oppression.
Is Gender Fluid? Sally Hines and Matthew Taylor 2018
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on May 31, 2020 by Luan.
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Last weekend, my girlfriends and I went out for a few afternoon cocktails (#thatescalatedquickly). One of our favorite restaurants in our hometown is closing soon and they literally have THE BEST Espresso Martinis EVER! As we ordered what might be our last Espresso Martinis ever from this place, I did my due diligence and creepily watched the bartender.
Since I have the attention span of a goldfish, I looked away and missed some ingredients! I did find this recipe on DrinksMixer.com and I think it actually tasted close to what they put in theirs.
You can also buy this delicious Chocolate Rimmer from The Cape Cod Store for $6.99 to make your martini taste even better!
Do you make Espresso Martini's at home? What do you put in yours?


Razors require honing to produce an edge that is not only razor-sharp but silky smooth too. A smooth edged razor makes for a pleasant shave without skin irritation and rashes.
The internet is full of self-proclaimed honing experts. Anyone can buy a set of synthetic hones and proceed to hone a razor, there's no skill in that. It's all about the edge, you'll hear. However, honing a razor well is a skilful task that requires experience and practice. There's no substitute for experience and an affinity with steel.
I have been honing steel for over 35 years.
I prefer to hone a razor, as nature (and the manufacturer) intended, without tape. A fashion has developed in recent years to place electrician's tape on the spine of a razor. This is an unnecessary practice. It's like trying to tune your car engine without starting the engine up. That said, if you want your razor honed with tape, let me know. Your razor, your face your rules!
I hone with a wide range of hones, synthetic and natural. My personal preference is for an Ardennes Coticule, which suits vintage blades.
After honing, I strop the razor on natural linen followed by leather. For more information about strops and stropping, see here.
If you have a razor that you would like honed, contact me.


We think the City of Adelaide has done a great job in reinvigorating this playground and providing a playground with fun challenges for all ages. If you've got kids who love climbing we think they'll love this playground.
Please Note: Christian Brothers College is next door and the boys use the playground during recess and lunchtimes. You may want to avoid the playground during those times as there may be a lot of kids there at once.
As the playground is a shared community space, please be aware that there may be artwork on display, made by the students from the school. There have been reports that some of these were damaged in the first week of opening. Please look out and take care of any student work there.
The established trees are very beautiful, and while the newly planted trees have some growing to do, they should provide some shade in summer. The cubby houses are enticing and feature lots of challenges for kids, while being big enough for adults to climb inside and rescue a toddler if need be. One of the cubby houses is a bit higher than the other with slightly more advanced equipment, though both are connected by a rope swing net.
Our toddler made a beeline for the in-ground trampolines and had a great time bouncing from one trampoline to another. The bigger kids loved the basket swing, monkey bars and climbing nets. They were also massive fans of the hand ball courts, and rubberised soft-fall 'mountains' which were fun to run up and down (these were too tricky for the toddler to climb as you needed a bit of a run-up).
Parents of babies and toddlers will be pleased to know that there is a soft-fall rubberised surface around some of the play equipment. Seating and water fountains are other big pluses, as is the proximity to good cafes along Hutt Street.
Editor's note 25 July 2018: At the time of writing the amenities block was in the final stages of being upgraded to include four toilets, while preserving heritage character. Toilets should be completed by the end of the week.
The taller of the two cubby houses features a chain ladder which was a bit too challenging for the toddler to navigate.
Our kids loved that there are so many opportunities for climbing.
As well as the other, more challenging climbing options, there's a nice sturdy little staircase with a handrail.
There's a basket swing which will be fun for all ages – including the bigger kids, plus the usual regular and toddler swings.
It was difficult to drag our kids away from these. We thought they were great fun for open-ended play.
Be sure to bring along handballs with these great courts adjacent to the playground.
Bring a basketball and practise some cool moves.
The playspace is very close to the skate park that is just down on Wakefield Rd, with Rymill Park just over the parklands and Victoria Park across the road. At Victoria Park there are three cafes you can grab coffee and a bite to eat: Kiosk on 16, Velo Precinct and The Stables of Victoria Park. Rymill Park also has the kiosk there (although it is closed during Winter) and of course the playground and boat rides.
In addition to the soft-fall surface you will also find bark chips which may be an issue if you have a baby or toddler who likes to put everything in their mouth.
On the day we visited it was in the middle of winter so shade wasn't a concern, however if you were to visit in summer we recommend hats and sunblock as the trees within the playground are yet to grow up.
Parking is on the street along East Terrace or Wakefield Street, and you may find it harder to park around school drop and pick up times as the playground is just next to Christian Brothers College.
Remember to bring a handball and/or basketball if your kids love ball games.


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Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend
Go visit the Harbor Islands, see Wayne Brady perform, or take in some of Art Week.
By Greta Jochem·	 5/5/2016, 8:05 a.m.
Keep your weekends full of the coolest things to do around Boston with our weekly Weekender newsletter.
Spectacle Island, photo courtesy of Boston Harbor Cruises
FERRY RIDE
Boston Harbor Islands Opening Weekend
There may not be time for a tropical island getaway, but maybe you can do the Massachusetts equivalent. Tucked away in the Boston Harbor, there are 34 islands that make up the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. Soak in spectacular views of the skyline as you cruise to Georges or Spectacle Island for the park's opening weekend of the season. Georges Island houses a historic Civil War-era fort and Spectacle Island boasts sandy beaches and lush hiking trails. Not sure where to start? Try our guide to the islands.
Free, ticket booth opens 8:30 a.m., Saturday, May 7, ferry leaves from Long Wharf North, 66 Long Wharf, Boston, bostonharborislands.org.
Image of Wayne Brady Provided
Wayne Brady
Wayne Brady has no shortage of talent—he's a singer, actor, TV personality, and, of course, comedian. His notable work includes hilarious appearances on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, his own Emmy award-winning talk show, a starring role on Broadway, and spur of the moment improv raps. If you're a fan of improv, his show is probably one you'll want to see.
$45-$65, 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 6, The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St, Boston, thewilbur.com.
Learn swing dancing at South Station as part of ArtWeek Boston, photo courtesy of ArtWeek Boston
ArtWeek Boston
Explore all the art Boston has to offer with the closing weekend of ArtWeek Boston. The bi-annual festival includes over 100 events showcasing a broad range of creative arts, like dance, theater, fashion, poetry, visual art, and music. Sue Dahling Sullivan, chief strategic officer at the Citi Performing Arts Center, the organization that hosts the festival, says that it "puts creativity at center stage and makes it affordable and accessible for everybody." Over 65 percent of the events are free, and 95 percent are under $25. Check out the Boston Theater Marathon—50 ten-minute plays produced in just ten hours—take a tour of Cambridge's own public art, or see a documentary film. You can even learn to swing dance in South Station.
Prices vary, Sunday, May 8, locations vary, artweekboston.org.
Persona, Photo by Noah Weber
OPERA/THEATRE
In this adaption of the 1966 Swedish film, a famous actress inexplicably becomes mute and is put under the care of a nurse. Beth Morrison, the show's creative producer, says, "It's a psychological drama, for sure." Persona pushes the boundaries of theatre and opera, exploring dark, psychological ideas like madness and death. Morrison explains that there is an underlying current of jealousy—the nurse starts to project the mute actress's life onto her own. The Wall Street Journal raved that the show "was hauntingly insidious, pulling the listener inexorably into this vampire-like romance."
$5-$15 (includes museum admission), Thursday, May 5, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 25 Evans Way, Boston, gardnermuseum.org.
Tango Glories, photo courtesy of The National Center for Jewish Film
Jewish Film Festival: Tango Glories
Now in its 19th year, the National Center for Jewish Film shares some examples of the rich Jewish cinematic history. The ICA is hosting Tango Glories, an Argentinean film focusing on a man who expressed himself solely through tango lyrics, and his epic love story. According to Lisa Rivo, Co-Director of the National Center for Jewish Film, the Boston Tango society will be giving a live demo before the film. If one movie isn't enough, they have films through May 22 all over the city.
$12-$14, Saturday, May 7, Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Avenue, Boston, icaboston.org.
Arts + Entertainment
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13 Boston Experiences You Can Give as Gifts This Year
37 Ways to Have Fun All Winter Long in Boston
Places to Volunteer in Boston
Your Guide to the Most Romantic Valentine's Day in Boston
First Look: Imagine van Gogh at the SoWa Power Station
Two Immersive Van Gogh Exhibitions Are Coming to Boston
The Best Indoor Activities for Kids Around Boston


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Brian Kopp '98 played role in changing the NBA
November 13, 2017 Alumni RelationsPosted in News
SportVU, developed by Israeli scientists Gal Oz and Miky Tamir, uses high-resolution tracking cameras in the catwalks of NBA arenas to capture the precise movements of players thousands of times per minute. This technology changed the way basketball teams make decisions, basketball players are valued, and basketball fans understand the sport. It even changed the game itself.
Stats LLC, a sports-data company based in Chicago, wanted to acquire their business; that is where Brian comes into the picture. An employee of Stats at the time, Brian aided in the acquisition of SportVU and the subsequent sale of the technology to the NBA.
Read the full story at The Wall Street Journal


Announcement: Ceramic Easter eggs are my newest thing!
Today's a big day for me and my shop. I'm over the moon to tell you that I'm launching a small collection of hand painted ceramic Easter eggs!
Remember how I told you about my Gram? Well, when I was a little girl, we didn't just paint ornaments. Each spring, she would go to the ceramic store and pick up a bunch of tiny bisque ceramic eggs, chicks and bunnies. She'd bring them home, along with a collection of ceramic paints, and we would go to work.
I painted countless ceramic eggs during my childhood. One was never enough. I would paint 4, 5 each spring to add to my basket. We also swapped some of them between our baskets.
It was magical. The beginning of spring is forever connected to painting at Gram's table.
When I was thinking about what I could add to my shop, eggs were a natural addition. I looked through my own heirloom basket of ceramic eggs for inspiration.
Instead of the dots and lines I painted on those eggs, I settled on something timeless. I'm making tiny "framed" paintings – vignettes – on the front of each egg.
I'm starting with 6 designs this year. Irises, tulips, butterflies... you know, my favorites.
Jump over to my Etsy shop to grab yours today. The quantities will be limited this year as I test the waters, but if all goes well, I'll make this section grow each year!


The NCDOT said on Tuesday afternoon that crews clearing N.C. Highway 12 in between Rodanthe and the Bonner Bridge have not found structural damage to the road itself so far. This means that once crews are able to get ahead of any additional sand and water being deposited on the road, N.C. Highway 12 will reopen fairly quickly.
The bad news, per the NCDOT, was that the morning high tide at roughly 10:30 a.m. deposited an additional 4-5 feet of sand at the Pea Island Visitors Center, and lesser amounts at other points along the highway.
NCDOT crews are continuing to work around the clock to clear the highway of sand and standing water, and will know in the next few hours when the road will be able to be reopened to the public.
Hot spots in Avon, North Buxton, and Mirlo Breach in Rodanthe still had standing water after the morning's high tide, which included some deep spots in Avon.
On Ocracoke Island, the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter routes remain in operation, but the Ocracoke / Hatteras route is closed due to the road closures on both Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. If the roads reopen late this afternoon, service for the Hatteras / Ocracoke ferry will resume.
Dare County reported that there will be no residential or commercial trash collection on Hatteras Island Wednesday, March 7, due to the road conditions. Normal schedule will resume when conditions improve.


It is interesting how the 10m started to "behave" in the last 2 weeks. Not that severely but still usable way mainly into different areas of Europe but from time to time couple of DXs are available as well . FY5KE and UA9s which makes a bit more fun in these low SSN periods. It is more interesting in the same time 15m does not show any correlation with this propagation.


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Power & Politics: Rockland's Ed Day discusses challenges and triumphs
NEW CITY -
Rockland Executive Ed Day told News 12 that he "never in a million years" believed he would be leading the county, but he has for the past five years.
"It was slow travel from Brooklyn all the way north to Rockland County, and I wouldn't have it any other way," he said.
The 67-year-old Republican says when people look back at his time serving the county, they are going to see a county that "almost went under but turned it around" and "exceeded everyone's wildest imagination."
The former NYPD lieutenant-commander said when he first came to office in 2014, he had to pull from everything he had learned as a career cop to tackle the biggest budget crisis Rockland had faced in years.
But after Day got the county back in the black, the Haverstraw resident said he encountered an even higher hurdle – measles. He mandated vaccinations when the outbreak was at its highest levels.
"We have the state, the feds now looking at Rockland County as a model to how we address this," he said.
Day said the biggest challenge the county faces is overdevelopment.
"Hands down, that's the one thing that will destroy this county if not we don't address it," said Day.
Day told News 12 that he will seek a third term in 2021 but will likely not run for a fourth term.
Power & Politics: Rockland's Ed Day discusses challenges and triumphsMore>>
Power & Politics Shows


Simply getting into people's heads is not a guarantee of winning them as customers when they have a choice to make.
After almost five decades in marketing, Greg Hoyos has a treasure trove of advice for those in the field. And over the next few months, he'll share some of those nuggets in a blog series entitled '50 Things I've Learned During 50 Years Of Marketing'.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday July 27, 2017 – This is an ongoing marketing myth: believing if a company repeats its brand-name often enough, it is a guarantee of sales. But that is simply a marketer's conceit. You can dish it out, but that doesn't mean anyone will listen to you. Simply getting into people's heads is not a guarantee of winning them as customers.
Think about this: everyone can name four or five brands in any product category, but that does not mean they will buy these. They buy – or not – for many reasons. And everyone can sing or hum jingles for products they will never buy. Brand awareness alone isn't enough.
We are now exposed to so many advertising and sponsorship messages each day that we have become experts at selective listening. We ruthlessly filter out what doesn't interest us. And your brand name doesn't interest most people most of the time.
What consumers want is relevant messages – and that means relevant in their judgment, not ours. So, if companies can attach their brand to a message or a benefit consumers want to hear, they are more likely to retain it – and maybe even buy it.
So spend some time and think about relevance to your audience first, not about mere repetition of a brand name. Then you might be able to spend less, and achieve a lot more.


Usher and U Remind Me finds the top song spot on the chart this week. Blu Cantrell finds the number two position this week with Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!). Destiny's Child finds the third chart position this week with Bootylicious.


I recently struggled with the validation of a very generic XML data structure in some message payload. It turned out to be a good example where XPath validation can overcome the normal XML tree comparison. I'd like to share my thoughts about this issue, because others might run into similar problems too and the solution with XPath really impressed me with its powerful validation possibilities.


Write decimals in percent form. Get answers to questions like: Turn 7.54 into a percent or how do you express 7.54 as a percent. Use the decimal as a percent calculator below to write any decimal in percent form.
We wish to express the number 7.54 as a percentage. So, to convert this number to percent, we should multiply it by 100.
In this case, multiplying 7.54 by 100 we get 754 (the value in percent form).
Step 1: Shift the decimal point two places to the right: 7.54 → 75.4 → 754.
7.54 is the same as 754% in percent.


Today, the star-studded music video for, "If I Can Dream," by Elvis Presley with new vocal performances from Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood premiered globally on Apple Music. The video showcases the new version of the legendary closing number and is the finale performance from the upcoming NBC "Elvis All-Star Tribute" which will air on Sunday, Feb. 17 from 9-11 p.m. ET/PT.
The music video opens with Elvis' passionate and now-classic, emotionally fueledperformance of "If I Can Dream" from the '68 Comeback Special with The King of Rock and Roll standing in front of a towering backdrop of red lights that spell ELVIS. It then transitions to each of the contemporary stars singing a different verse in front of a re-creation of that backdrop, uniting the legend and the current superstars in a song that is just as lyrically relevant today as it was in 1968.
Beginning tomorrow, February 15, the track and music video will be available everywhere.
NBC's "Elvis All-Star Tribute" features the music industry's biggest stars, including Yolanda Adams, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Alessia Cara, Mac Davis, John Fogerty, Josh Groban, Adam Lambert, John Legend, Little Big Town, Jennifer Lopez, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Pistol Annies, Darius Rucker, Ed Sheeran, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. The two-hour program will be hosted by Blake Shelton and pay tribute to Elvis Presley's "'68 Comeback Special," recreating the iconic night with musical performances, a showcase of rare footage and interviews with Priscilla Presley and Steve Binder, the director of the original special, plus a special appearance from Lisa Marie Presley.
The new companion album to NBC's "Elvis All-Star Tribute telecast," The Best of the '68 Comeback Special, will also be released tomorrow in digital and CD formats by RCA/Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
An ideal set for longtime Elvis fans and newcomers, The Best of the '68 Comeback Special comprises the Elvis recordings and performances that inspired the upcoming tribute and showcases the new version of the legendary closing number, "If I Can Dream," as heard in the new special — featuring Elvis' original vocals alongside new performances by Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood. The album features 15 remastered Elvis performances from the "stand-up" and "sit-down" shows filmed for the '68 broadcast, plus three original studio recordings to represent songs that appear in the new special.
An exclusive version of The Best of the '68 Comeback Special will be released by Wal Mart and includes a DVD of the original '68 Comeback Special.


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Miss Marple (1984-92)
BBC, 26/12/1984- 27/12/92
16x50 mins, 1x115 mins, 3x110 mins, 1x100 mins, colour
Writers include T.R. Bowen
Alan Plater
Directors include David Tucker
Norman Stone
Producers Guy Slater
George Gallaccio
Cast: Joan Hickson (Miss Marple); David Horovitch (Inspector Slack); Ian Brimble (Sergeant Lake)
Miss Jane Marple, an aged spinster from the village of St Mary Mead, uses her intuition and knowledge of human nature to solve crimes in 1950s Britain.
Despite many attempts over the decades, faithful adaptations of Agatha Christie 's sedate Miss Marple stories either for film or TV proved highly elusive, unlike some of those made from the author's more dynamic and densely plotted Poirot adventures. Gracie Fields was the rather unlikely star of a live broadcast of A Murder Is Announced made by CBS in 1956, while Margaret Rutherford 's popular cinema incarnation in four 1960s comedy-thrillers strayed far from their literary source.
The late Joan Hickson , however, proved perfectly cast when, at age 78, she took on the role for the BBC . Physically, she brilliantly embodied the shrewd, sharp-eyed, owlish spinster, while also conveying her intuitive acumen and razor-sharp mind. The handsomely mounted, leisurely paced productions closely follow the books, spreading the stories across several episodes, the emphasis placed squarely on atmosphere and design. Although Christie 's stories were published over 40 years, the series relocated them all to the late 1940s/early 50s, when Britain was finally getting over the years of post-war austerity.
The first serial was T.R. Bowen 's three-part adaptation of The Body in the Library (1984), which opens brilliantly with Dolly Bantree ( Gwen Watford ) coercing her husband out of bed to see if there really is a corpse in their house. This story also introduced the ever-grumpy Detective Inspector (later Superintendent) Slack ( David Horovitch ); Marple's nephew, Inspector Craddock ( John Castle ), would appear in later stories.
A Murder is Announced (1985), adapted by Alan Plater , vividly brings to life the small village of St Mary Mead (actually Nether Wallop, Hampshire), also providing a highly sympathetic role for Joan Sims as a meek lesbian. When the character is murdered, the moment is genuinely upsetting. At Bertram's Hotel (1987), featuring Joan Greenwood as a gossiping old acquaintance of Miss Marple's, has an uncharacteristic action climax in which a villain tries to escape, but also cleverly highlights the trap of easy nostalgia, an accusation that was occasionally levelled at the series.
Although inherently conservative, the twelve novels were intelligently adapted so as to appeal to a broad audience, while remaining essentially true to Christie's original intentions. The last of the Marple mysteries to be filmed was The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side (1992), which appropriately enough reunited Miss Marple, Slack, Craddock and Dolly Bantree to solve a double murder in St Mary Mead.
Sergio Angelini
1. Village tea (3:29)
2. Doctors orders (3:31)
3. Whodunit? (2:48)
4. Miss Marple's flame (2:33)
Agatha Christie on Television
TV Sleuths


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Captain Lacey Books In Order
Publication Order of Captain Lacey Books
The Hanover Square Affair (2003) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
A Regimental Murder (2004) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Glass House (2004) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Sudbury School Murders (2005) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Body in Berkley Square (2005) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
A Covent Garden Mystery (2006) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Necklace Affair (2011) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Gentleman's Walking Stick (2011) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
A Death in Norfolk (2011) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
A Disappearance in Drury Lane (2013) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Murder in Grosvenor Square (2014) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Thames River Murders (2015) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Alexandria Affair (2016) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
A Mystery at Carlton House (2017) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Captain Lacey is the main character in a series of historical mystery books written by an American author of mystery & thrillers, romance and historical novels, Ashley Gardner. In the series, Lacey is a retired cavalry officer in Regency-era London, England.
Ashley Gardner is the pseudonym used by award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer Ashley. Gardner began the publication of Captain Lacey series in 2003 when The Hanover Square Affair the first book in the series was published. Over a dozen novels have been released, and the series is currently ongoing.
Hanover Square Affair
Hanover Square Affair is the debut novel in Captain Lacey series. The series takes place post-Waterloo where Napoleon meets his downfall. The story also introduces the readers to Lacey, a retired soldier- he was not present in the battle Waterloo, but he was in the peninsular battle on the Iberian island in Spain.
Lacey tends suffers from a severe depression and has had his struggles in life, both on the battlefield and out of the battlefield. He has been forsaken by virtually every acquaintance or good friend apart from Louisa Brandon.
Louisa Brandon is married to Lacey's former friend and mentor. It is revealed that Lacey and Brandon had a falling out- that resulted in Brandon sending Lacey on a mission that should have killed. However, this mission led in Lacey getting lamed, permanently damaging his left knee.
In response, the military decided that rather than involving court-martial and other procedures, this scandal would cause much to Brandon, Lacey, and Louisa. Moreover, as a result, both Lacey and Brandon were forced by the military to sell their commissions. Brandon has his full income while his friend Lacey gets his half pay, but the enmity between the two is far from over. Louisa is determined to remain Lacey's best friend forever, and she is the only person that can draw Lacey out of his severe depression.
While Louisa and Lacey maintain a causal relationship, Brandon suspects that the two have been having an affair- he cannot stop his jealousy and anger from continually getting in the way. In the meantime, Lacey is still very mad at Brandon for betraying him.
In this debut novel, Lacey makes a friend in Lucius Grenville, one of the town's darlings. Grenville is rich; he is respected and has taken an interest in Lacey- he likes Lacey's strong sense of humor and longs for some adventure with him. On the other hand, Lacey wants a purpose in life, and hence the two make a brilliant partnership in this novel.
Later Lacey stumbles upon a conflict; he comes across an angry mob claiming that the owner of a shattered townhome had stolen something precious from an old gray-haired man. Five cavalry guards are guarding the home, but they treat the senior man meanly, and one of them shoots the old man in the back. Lacey immediately realizes that he is familiar with some of these men- one he had saved but instead of being grateful to Lacey, the man still resents him.
Lacey rescues the old man together with his wife- and escorts them home, listens to their side of the story of how their daughter Jane and a maid Aimee were kidnapped. The old couple believes that the man they were after has the two girls. Lacey soon investigates, and his inquiry leads him to a man with vulgar tastes, a man capable of abusing the two girls.
Lacey self-appointed mission leads him to investigate what happened to both Aimee and Jane. His mission will see him into the dark tunnels of London underground where killing is next to a hobby and to survive; he will have to rely on the skills acquired during his military days.
The first book in the series is quite dark; it is narrated from the first-person perspective from the eyes of Captain Lacey. Thanks to the first person narration that the readers get to know that he is tragic and also get to know what happened to him in his life. The mystery in the novel is engaging and at the same time sad.
Lacey is a complex character with lots of problems, he is emotionally flat and has a backstory that begs to tell.
A Regimental Murder
Captain Lacey makes a comeback after his debut in The Hanover Square Affair- in a darker mystery that surrounds who murdered an English Officer during the Peninsular War with Napoleon.
One late night, Lacey meets a charming but tragic stricken woman who intends to commits suicide by throwing herself off the bridge. He follows the woman, and while trying to prevent the lady from committing suicide, he finds himself fighting a street thief approached the woman.
Scared, the woman refuses to tell her savior, Lacey her name or where her home is, and without any other alternative, he takes the woman to his house. He offers her his bed and is soon captured by her beauty and her sorrowful eyes.
Lacey has had enough of being accused by his former mentor Brandon that he has been having an affair with his wife-and to justify to Brandon that nothing intimate ever happened between him and Brandon's wife, Lacey wants the strange woman in his home, but must first ensure that he has an approved path first.
The next morning, Brandon bumps into Lacey's house, and his suspicions are soon confirmed. The woman is Lydia Westin, the wife of Colonel Westin. Westin had died few days before he would be arrested for the murder of an English officer named Spencer.
Lydia begs Lacey to assist her to clear her husband's name, she is sure that her husband could not have killed Spencer, but she suspects other three officers who were present. She also believes that her husband's death was not accidental and that he was murdered.
Willing to help the woman he has come to love, Lacey once again enlists the help of his friend Grenville, and this marks the start of an unending adventure for the two.
A Regimental Murder is a brilliant series installment. There is a lot of loss, pain, and deception in the story; it is the unforgiving kind that tears lives and people apart. If you like historical mystery novels, then Captain Lacey series by Ashley Gardner is a series worth your time reading.
Book Series In Order » Characters » Captain Lacey
Did you know that after graduating from Cornell Law School in 1989, Barry Eisler joined the CIA, where he held a covert position with the Directorate of Operations. Hi is also a black belt in Judo.


As the weather warms up, make the most of your Hobart No. 4 Gin with these bright summer cocktails.
The easiest way to enjoy your Hobart No. 4 this summer is with a bit of tonic. We recommend using a good quality tonic like Fever Tree or Capi, a couple of dashes of bitters, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and a nice sprig of fresh mint to garnish.
One of the great modern classics, the breakfast martini combines gin, citrus and marmalade for a bittersweet and refreshing summer sipper.
The Australian spirits industry has really taken off recently, allowing us to make cocktails using entirely Aussie ingredients. Try this home-grown version of a Negroni for a rich and textural aperitif that also supports the little guys.
Our twist on another great modern classic, the London Calling. Hobart No.4 and sherry work brilliantly together, but this time combined with fresh citrus for a bright and complex drink that works at any time of day or year.
Tasmania is known for its beautiful fields of lavender. Try our take on the classic gin fizz with lavender and fresh raspberries.
A variation on the classic Southside cocktail, this drink combines gin with easy to find or grow mint and cucumber.
Hobart No. 4 works well with sweeter style white vermouths like Lillet Blanc, Cocchi Americano and Australian aperitifs like Causes & Cures, Maidenii and Regal Rogue. This summery drink combines Hobart with white vermouth and fresh peaches.


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Populations at Risk Previously Studied Situations
Central Africa (Lord's Resistance Army)
Populations in Somalia remain at risk of war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Al-Shabaab and various armed forces.
Despite the 2012 formation of the Federal Government of Somalia, populations remain at risk of atrocities perpetrated by armed extremist groups and the forces combatting them. On 10 December the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report detailing violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) committed in Somalia from January 2016 until October 2017. According to the report, at least 2,078 civilians were killed, including 1,233 fatalities attributed to Al-Shabaab and 329 caused by Somali security forces and troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Over 2 million people still live in Al-Shabaab controlled territory, mainly in the rural areas of Hirshabelle, Jubaland and South West Somalia. Al-Shabaab fighters routinely violate IHL and IHRL, including by torturing detainees, attacking hospitals and schools, targeting civilians, and using civilians as human shields. The group actively recruits child soldiers, who comprise more than half of their forces. Al-Shabaab has also blocked civilians from access to vital humanitarian assistance and continues to target AMISOM and humanitarian convoys for attack. On 30 July 2017 more than 20 AMISOM troops were killed in an Al-Shabaab ambush in Lower Shabelle.
In addition to the threat posed by Al-Shabaab, the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has a growing presence in Somalia. Territorial disputes between communities in the border regions of Galmudug, Puntland and Somaliland also pose a risk to vulnerable civilians.
Some Somali National Army and AMISOM forces tasked with providing civilian protection have at times posed a direct threat to civilians, committing rape, arbitrary detention and other grave violations of human rights.
After decades of armed conflict, an estimated 2.1 million Somalis are still internally displaced while over 875,000 have fled to neighboring countries. Over 6.2 million Somalis require humanitarian assistance, while the threat of famine persists in several regions.
During 29 and 30 December Somali authorities destroyed 23 camps for internally displaced persons in Banadir, Mogadishu displacing 4,000 households. The demolition destroyed over $200,000 of UN-funded shelters, sanitation systems and schools.
Despite political advances, the Federal Government of Somalia currently lacks the capacity to adequately protect civilians from the predations of various armed groups. While the AU has trained AMISOM forces to respect IHL and IHRL and advised on methods to reduce civilian harm, large-scale military offensives against Al-Shabaab still pose a threat to vulnerable populations. Despite challenges, AMISOM remains the main source of safety and security in Somalia.
The Federal Government of Somalia and AMISOM have a Responsibility to Protect civilians from war crimes and crimes against humanity as they battle against Al-Shabaab and other armed extremist groups.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE:
On 30 August the UN Security Council (UNSC) passed Resolution 2372, which recalled the Federal Government of Somalia's responsibility to protect its population and to build its national security forces in full compliance with IHL and IHRL. Resolution 2372 also renewed AMISOM's mandate until 31 May 2018 and lowered AMISOM's troop ceiling to 21,626. AMISOM is expected to fully withdraw from Somalia by 2020. On 3 March AMISOM troop contributing countries (TCCs) and the Foreign Minister of Somalia released a Communiqué urging the UNSC to reconsider AMISOM's drawdown.
On 14 November the UNSC passed Resolution 2385 renewing the partial arms embargo for Somalia until 15 November 2018, while noting that the government of Somalia has the primary responsibility to protect its population and must improve the capacity of the national security forces.
Working with the Somali government, the United States conducted over 30 airstrikes against Al-Shabaab and ISIL in Somalia during 2017.
NECESSARY ACTION:
International partners should continue to support efforts aimed at defeating Al-Shabaab and enhancing national governance, as well as protecting and promoting human rights in Somalia. The UNSC should reevaluate AMISOM's 2020 drawdown date to ensure the end of mission does not endanger Somalia's security and stability.
The Federal Government of Somalia, AMISOM and allied forces, including the United States, must ensure that their military campaigns against Al-Shabaab are carried out in strict adherence with IHL and IHRL. A coordinated political strategy aimed at countering violent extremism should also be implemented in order to prevent recruitment to Al-Shabaab and other armed groups.
All alleged war crimes in Somalia must be properly investigated and the perpetrators held accountable, regardless of rank or affiliation.
The most recent issues of R2P Monitor and Atrocity Alert are available in the side-bar. To see previous assessments of this country, please see R2P Monitor and Atrocity Alert on our Publications page. Somalia was featured in the R2P Monitor from May through November 2012 and from September 2017 through January 2018.
R2P Monitor
R2P Monitor, Issue 37, 15 January 2018
R2P Monitor, Issue 36, 15 November 2017
R2P Monitor, Issue 35, 15 September 2017
R2P Monitor, Issue 6, 15 November 2012
R2P Monitor, Issue 5, 15 September 2012
Atrocity Alert
Atrocity Alert No. 131: Myanmar (Burma), Iraq and Somalia
Atrocity Alert No. 95: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Syria and Somalia
Atrocity Alert No. 84: South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia
UN Security Council Resolutions
Resolution 2431 (Somalia) S/RES/2431
United Nations Security Council
Press Statement on Somalia SC/10749


NHS provider Locala has announced its new chief executive.
After almost six months of searching, the community healthcare provider has revealed a former hospital chief has taken the helm.
Karen Jackson joins the Batley based social enterprise – which provides most of the district nurses in Kirklees – from her previous role as interim chief executive of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust.
She previously had a role as improvement director with national organisation NHS Improvement, formerly known as Monitor, where she was programme manager for the West Yorkshire Acceleration Zone, reporting directly to the Secretary of State.
Prior to that she was chief executive for North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, a complex acute and community healthcare provider with turnover of over £300m.
Karen said: "I am very happy to be joining such an innovative NHS organisation, and particularly one with Locala's position as a social enterprise.
"I have had experience of managing community healthcare services in the past and firmly believe that the future of healthcare relies on the development and growth of community-based healthcare services.
"Not only that but I have seen first-hand what can be achieved by social enterprises within the healthcare sector.
"They have many opportunities for colleague and service user engagement, and, importantly, for service innovation.
Locala chairwoman Diane McKerracher, said: "I am delighted to welcome Karen to the organisation. I am confident that she will provide excellent leadership to our board of directors, and Locala as a whole.
The former chief executive of Locala, Robert Flack, hit the headlines a number of times during his six year tenure.
Mr Flack resigned suddenly last September.
Over the years the Examiner revealed he had received a £26,000 pay rise while nurses and staff got just a few hundred pounds.
Mr Flack also axed a bonus scheme for nurses but then awarded his fellow directors £66,000 in pay rises.
Last year, Locala was rated 'Inadequate' – the lowest score – in two areas of its inspection by the regulator, the CQC.


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Fingers crossed for Crown cash
by Keith Newman May 19, 2020 May 19, 2020
While Hawke's Bay industrial, commercial and residential development is back on track with a vengeance, local authorities are hanging out for a significant central Government cash injection into Covid recovery.
Local councils have used the lockdown period to catch up with the backlog in consenting for new developments and are ramping up efforts to deal to the housing shortage and other developments with projects across councils likely to be around $500 million.
Hastings and Napier are awaiting proposed changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) to fast track 'shovel ready' large scale commercial and industrial infrastructure projects.
Those projects need to create significant job opportunities and be approved by an expert panel, including environmental representation, but won't get the official nod until after the legislation is introduced in June. See Tom Belford's concern in Not paranoid, just cautious.
Appeals have also made to the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) and the Crown Infrastructure Fund to get a number of regional projects off the ground, including the joint council's application for $314 million for the 'Three Waters' infrastructure.
There's uncertainty about what slice of the 6,000 public housing and 2,000 transitional homes promise in Budget 2020 will come to Hawke's Bay. These are being financed by $5 billion through the Kāinga Ora borrowing programme and other community and transitional housing providers.
Finance minister Grant Robertson believed this increased supply would improve affordability while providing a shot in the arm to the residential construction sector.
Further funding likely
He intimated further support for housing development and construction, including the private residential market, will be in the next phase of the newly announced $50 billion Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
The challenge put to local councils by BayBuzz was, in the light of the government promising to relax RMA conditions for certain projects, what were they doing to make it easier for builders and developers.
For example, would they relax their own consenting processes to make it easier for the construction of tiny houses, sub-dividing sections, or make more land available for houses or more intense inner city development?
An important part of the Hawke's Bay's recovery will be through the coordinated efforts of Matariki or the Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) and Action Plan. Included in its multi-pronged strategy is the goal of streamlining regulatory processes across the region.
What that will look like is yet to be seen, but includes a refresh of the Regional Policy Statement to fast track processes to consider residential housing plans and achieve "integrated approaches to sustainable development and planning".
The specifics of these overarching aspirations to remove bureaucratic obstacles are yet to be fleshed out.
Hastings consents easing
Meanwhile, Hastings District Council, long regarded as having one of the more difficult regimes in the country for processing housing consents, has put in place a number of measures to prepare for a new wave of development.
HDC's group manager, planning and regulatory services, John O'Shaughnessysays council has "a statutory duty to follow the legislative process" but has approved the engagement of significant additional processing resources in both the building and land use consenting areas.
Prior to lockdown HDC approved significant new resources for its planning and building teams to deal with the high workloads of consenting officers. "Part of this package was the engagement of external building consent contractors to help process consents," saysO'Shaughnessy.
The Hastings building and resource consent teams used the lockdown period to catch up and reduce the processing times, although delays are still likely due to being unable to undertake site visits.
Richard Munneke, Napier's City Council's recovery manager, insists there are no obstacles to building and land use consents within Napier. "Our consents team worked through the entire period of the lockdown, ensuring fast processing of all consents to enable work to continue as soon as Alert Level 4 ended."
He says Napier has never had a shortage of consenting officers or experienced delays in getting consents through.
CHB reducing obstacles
Central Hawke's Bay District Council (CHBDC), which committed to reducing obstacles to consenting three years ago, says it will continue to support "customer excellence and processes that are as streamlined as possible to support … (and) enable consenting."
It is proposing a number of projects to the Crown Infrastructure Fund and PGF "that can be achieved and started in the short term" and is "eagerly waiting an outcome".
The PGF package includes 10 projects across roading, vegetation management, social housing, and walkway and cycleways totalling around $40m. CHBDC has six projects it is hoping to get funded through the Three Waters scheme, valued at around $89m.
While Napier has submitted a number of 'shovel ready' projects to by-pass the RMA's public consulting requirements, Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst has a number of projects she'd like streamlined, but won't submit them until the RMA amendment law is in place.
Projects already identified in the Hastings Long Term Plan include $76.5m as part of the regional Three Waters application; $12m for traffic safety, walking and cycling; and rural roading initiatives and improvements.
It's hopeful of another $33m from the PGF to support projects related to skills training and pathways to employment.
Meanwhile Hastings has already activated a "large pipeline of work already in train" prior to lockdown, including 28 capital works programmes worth $16.1m.
Papakainga housing
O'Shaughnessy says a number of initiatives have been undertaken and more options will be explored to grow the district's housing pool.
He cites the large section in West Flaxmere sold to Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga which will include a community housing initiative and claims the council is leading the nation in providing in its district plan for Papakainga housing.
O'Shaughnessy says the District Plan already encourages intensive residential development through the city living zones, inner city living provisions and residential development across all zones, including new greenfield development.
Development contributions were reduced in 2016 for infill and medium housing and council has rezoned "significant areas of greenfield housing at Iona, Brookvale and Howard St to ensure there is a forward supply of land ready for development".
Hastings is currently producing a design guideline for medium density development "to show how more intense residential development can be successfully achieved".
He says approval of seasonal workers accommodation, giving certainty for the horticultural sector and labour providers, will have the added benefit of reducing pressure on the rental housing market.
Hastings has also partnered with Kainga Ora to be one of two cities to pilot a place-based approach, expected to deliver about 200 homes over the next two years.
Napier's City's Richard Munneke says the council's recovery team has identified the risk of housing needs changing through "some negative movements and reduced confidence in the market" and predicts Napier prices are likely to drop by around 10%. "Reduced migration and profit margins may reduce progress of new housing developments."
Napier has applied to MBIE for three 'waves' of 'shovel ready' projects including $1.4m for eight cycleway, traffic calming and playground upgrade projects, and another $8.4m for eleven other projects.
They're also betting on a portion of the Three Waters infrastructure funding. Munneke says the council's pandemic recovery team has identified many streams of work to help the local economy.
Central Hawke's Bay is also juggling the need to support housing and development while balancing the social, economic, cultural and economic future of the district. "Council remain committed to working alongside local iwi partners, private investors and central Government agencies as we focus on the implementation of the Central Hawke's Bay Housing Strategic Framework."
It is currently completing "a generational review" of its District Plan, including its Development Contribution Policy, and reviewing growth assumptions in preparation for the 2021 Long Term Plan.
"Early indications continue to paint a positive picture of community growth for Central Hawke's Bay. Councils have a range of options in their toolboxes in relation to managing growth… It is too early to say what if any (growth) incentives will be provided."
Good intentions abound, along with applications for funding and enthusiasm about jobs created and shortages ending. The reality of those intentions however will only be known when the cash is in the bank and builders and developers can get on with the task in a timely fashion.
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