In the months leading up to the November 5th lottery, state lottery officials were trying to get as many people as possible to enter the lottery, and the number of lottery-goers fell sharply in the weeks leading up the opening day.
As of November 5, more than 17,000 people were expected to enter lottery lines.
But as of November 11, just over 2,000 were in line.
That means the state is losing out $16 million on its lottery revenues.
In total, the state will receive $1.1 billion in lottery revenue over the next two years, according to the lottery’s revenue forecast.
State lottery director Kevin Gannon told the Lansing State Journal that he expected that number to fall, too, due to the state’s poor attendance.
That could be a sign that the state isn’t seeing enough people enter the state lottery for the state to collect a lot of revenue.
Gannon said that if people don’t enter the line by midnight on November 5 then they won’t be eligible for the November 12 deadline to claim a lottery prize.
This is the first year that the lottery has not announced the closing time for the lottery lines, so it’s not clear how long the state has to collect the money.
In addition, Gannon did not specify exactly how much money the state would lose.
Michigan’s lottery revenue forecast was based on revenue estimates that state officials had in December.
On January 13, Michigan’s secretary of state released a state budget that estimated the state was on track to receive $4.7 billion in revenues over the course of the next fiscal year.
But the state didn’t release those numbers until March 3, just a few days before the lottery was to close.
“The reality is, Michigan has lost a lot in revenue for the past couple of years because of the lottery,” said Michael Azzopardi, a professor of government at Wayne State University.
He also pointed out that state revenues had fallen by nearly $5 billion since the lottery started operating in 2008.
“We were really hoping that we could generate revenue through lottery play that would allow us to have the ability to fund the schools and public services that we have and to provide the services that our communities need,” Azzophone said.
The state has said it plans to raise more than $1 billion through the lottery over the coming year, which would bring its total revenue in the next three years to $8.6 billion.
But some people have questioned the state should have been more aggressive with its efforts to attract people to the games.
“There’s just not enough people coming in, and we’re not doing enough to attract them to the lines,” said David J. Greskowitz, a Michigan resident who was planning to enter lines.
“I would argue that if you have more people, you should be more aggressive about it, but I don’t think that’s been done.”
Azzogaro said that the lack of revenue has been a problem for the last several years, and that the number one priority for the Michigan Lottery is to attract new players.
“They’ve just gotten bigger.
The number of people playing is just going up, and they’re taking advantage of the increased competition that we’ve seen,” he said.


Jordan- Iraqi defence minister visits northern military zone
(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Amman, Aug 20 (Petra) –– Iraqi Defence Minister Irfan al-Hayali and an accompanying team Sunday called on the northern military zone for a briefing on the tasks and duties carried out by Jordanian troops to protect the Kingdom's northern borders.
Welcoming the Iraqi minister, Commander of the military zone, Brigadier Ghazi Owayed, said the visit reflected the close cooperation between Jordan and Iraq in all fields.
Hayali commended the commander and officers for the Jordan Armed Forces- Arab Army's distinguished efforts to protect the border and safeguard the Kingdom's security and stability.
20/8/2017 - 07:26:18 PM
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Edo government in collaboration with security agencies is setting up a special team to review and tackle incidences of cultism in the state.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo disclosed this after the monthly state Security Meeting held at government house, Benin on Thursday.
Obaseki said the special team would ensure that the law passed on cultism in the state was activated while culprits were prosecuted.
“Our goal is to make sure that cases of cultism are properly dealt with and we will ensure that we have conviction particularly in our schools of higher learning.”
The governor also disclosed that the review of security incidents in the state for the month of October showed that kidnapping was on the increase.
He said the cases of kidnapping were reviewed with a view to improving local and state governments’ strategies to combat the crime.
Also, Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr DanMallam Mohammed, said security agencies were working to ensure the release of Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme who was kidnapped recently in the state.
He urged members of the public to remain calm as the police is putting more efforts to ensure that citizens of the state go about their normal duties peacefully. (NAN)


French Naval vessel docked at Banjul Port
May 18, 2010, 12:39 PM
The police intercepted the vehicle in which they were travelling.
A police source revealed that the purported culprits are two Gambians, two Seirra-Leoneans, two Senegalese nationals, and one Guinean citizen.
Their names are yet to be disclosed because of fear that releasing their names now could tamper with the ongoing investigation.
revealed that the seven suspects had already been transferred to the Police


Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India's five-day biennial mega defence exhibition- DefExpo- on Wednesday in Lucknow.
Over 1000 national and international defence firms are participating in the event which is being held for the first time in Lucknow.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall preside over the inaugural ceremony of the DefExpo 2020," a government statement said.
It said the event will cover the entire spectrum of the country's aerospace, defence and security interests.
After the inaugural ceremony of the Expo, PM Modi will visit the India and Uttar Pradesh pavilions.
"The India pavilion will exclusively showcase the strong partnership between the public and private sector, including small and medium enterprises," the statement said.


The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Delhi government of illegally hoarding foodgrains. According to BJP leader Ruby Yadav, hundreds of tonnes of foodgrains are likely stored by the Delhi government at a primary school in Vasant Kunj. She said that foodgrains have been rotting and are now unfit for consumption.
She has also filed a police complaint against the city government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Vasant Kunj police station and demanded a detailed investigation.
She said that BJP leaders when personally visited the school found that hundreds of tonnes of foodgrains were stored and are rotting.
"This was given to the Delhi government by the Centre to help the public during the pandemic," she said, adding that the city government didn't distribute ration in the time of crisis among the families of daily wage labourers, migrant workers, slum dwellers.
"People are hungry because they do not have enough food to eat and this grain was their right," Ruby said.
The Delhi government, she said, forced poor people to starve.


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Lebanese Forces chief calls on parties to meet Hariri on new gov't
(MENAFN) Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea called for political parties to meet Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri halfway in his quest to form a new government, NNA reported.
"The general situation in the country cannot bear any more delay in the cabinet formation," said Geagea.
"Hariri is exerting strenuous efforts at that level, but all political parties must meet his endeavors so that a new government is formed," added Geagea whose remarks came Tuesday during Women's Empowerment and Syndicates cadres graduation.
Several obstacles regarding the shares of political parties in the cabinet have been delaying the lineup of the government which Hariri was tasked with forming on May 24.
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King of Jordan condemns Israeli violence in Gaza Strip
(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) AMMAN, May 27 (KUNA) -- The King of Jordan Abdullah II condemned Sunday Israel's violence against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
King Abdullah II made those remarks during a meeting American Congress delegation headed by Darrell Issa, where the two sides discussed bilateral strategic relations and current regional situations, the Jordanian Royal Court said in a statement.
The king stated, "it is necessary to reach a comprehensive peace that enables Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate aspirations to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital." King Abdullah II said the issue of Al-Quds, or Jerusalem, should be settled in the final status negotiation process. He was referring to US President Donald Trump's decision to consider Jerusalem as capital of Israel.
On the other hand, King Abdullah II affirmed his country's efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis within Geneva process, and the importance of maintaining the de-escalation zones in southwest Syria as agreed between Jordan, US and Russia.
The American delegation hailed Jordan's role in dealing with various regional issues and its efforts to achieve peace and enhance security in the region, the statement said. (end) ab.aa
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(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Brussels: The European Union's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said Monday she was "extremely worried" by Turkey's offensive against Kurdish militia targets in Syria, saying she would seek urgent talks with Turkish officials.
"I'm extremely worried and will discuss this among other things with our Turkish interlocutors," Mogherini said after a regular meeting of EU foreign ministers where the issue was raised, adding that she was concerned about the impact on civilians and on the UN-backed Syrian peace process.
Ankara on Monday intensified its offensive to oust the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia from their enclave of Afrin in northern Syria, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowing there would be no stepping back in the campaign launched on Saturday.
Turkey considers the YPG to be a terror group and the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has waged a bloody three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state.
Mogherini said she was worried "for two main reasons".
"One side is the humanitarian one -- we need to make sure that humanitarian access is guaranteed and that civilian population and people are not suffering from military activities on the ground," she said.
The second issue, Mogherini said, was that the offensive "can undermine seriously the resumption of talks in Geneva, which is what we believe could really bring sustainable peace and security for Syria".
Mogherini said she hoped to set up a meeting with Turkey's European affairs minister Omer Celik when he visits Brussels "in the coming days".
France has called for a UN Security Council meeting Monday to discuss concerns over flashpoint areas in Syria including the Turkish offensive.
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"BJP should have answered to Hardik Patel and other youth point-by-point on the concerns of these youth. Instead of addressing their concerns, instead of taking them into confidence, the BJP has tried to target them and tarnish them, which they have failed," Congress leader Rizwan Arshad told ANI.
Arshad said that there are other youth leaders besides Patel, such as Jignesh Mevani and Alpesh Thakor, who have led independent movements, but were targeted by the BJP, and were booked at its behest.
"Now all of them are out against BJP for their performances and policies, lack of development in Gujarat, the failed Gujarat model, and the propagation of the failed Gujarat model across the country," he added.
The Congress leader further said that these youths have now come out in the support of Congress because they want an inclusive government that will take them into confidence and work for the welfare for all and not just a select few.


A party headquarters release said that the video conference meeting will be chaired by DMK president and Leader of the Opposition MK Stalin.
DMK sources said that representatives of ally’s parties such as Congress, MDMK, VCK, CPI, CPM and IUML were expected to attend the meeting, which will be held at 10 30 am.
Accordingly, the meeting is expected to discuss about the handling of coronavirus pandemic by both the state and the Centre.
A senior DMK party functionary also said that the meeting will pass several resolutions, including asking the state to come out with a clarity on the measures taken to prevent the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. “The meeting would also urge the cadre to take utmost care while doing relief measures for the affected people due to total lockdown, he added.
The meeting is also expected to review DMK’s Ondrinaivom Vaa (Let’s come together) campaign as a part of COVID-19 rehabilitation initiatives for the affected Stalin has already alleged Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami of tampering with number of deaths due to COVID-19. The meeting will also seek the government to be transparent in handling the pandemic.


(MENAFN)Profit dropped by a quarter following the school operator gave discounts to its students forced to learn online in the Coronavirus pandemic, stated National Company for Learning and Education (NCLE).
NCLE declared in a filing to the Saudi Exchange that net profit after zakat and tax decreased 24.6 percent annual to SR9.1 million (USD2.4 million) in the first quarter . Revenue fell 18.5 percent to SR45.4 million.
The company further declared that profits increased from the last quarter as students started to return and discounts were declined.
Schooling discounts averaged from 10 percent to 50 percent as NCLE is looking to retain its student numbers. The number of students enrolled in the most recent quarter dropped by 8 percent annual, of which 76 percent was from students for kindergarten and the first grade of primary school.
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New Delhi: Taking a jibe at the Congress-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said two families coming together to share power does not mean that the state of affairs in the state would change.
“Two families have come together to share power, you cannot say things are going to change,” Naidu told reporters at an interaction at the IWPC.
The Union Information and Broadcasting minister said the BJP would contest the elections on the issue of development and good governance.
He alleged that the state had faced “lawlessness” and “corruption” but attempts have been made to divert focus from the real issues.
“They are trying to divert the attention from the main issue – who gets the cycle and who sits on the carrier- the question is of governance. For the last ten years there is no governance in Uttar Pradesh, there is lawlessness violence and corruption,” Naidu said.
Asked about BJP not declaring a Chief Ministerial face, Naidu said the party has won several state elections even without declaring a CM face.
In response to a question related to the difficulties faced, Naidu said that various stakeholders would be consulted.
“Let us identify what all are the problems and what are the solutions without affecting the interests of the common man, without costing much to the exchequer also,” Naidu said assuring that the government would take appropriate steps.
Naidu said the government has sympathy for newspapers but added that its support depends on circulation.
“I have come across somewhere that couple of newspapers from one printing press,” he said apparently suggesting that in some cases there could be apprehensions also.
Naidu also said that the opposition has never had so much say like they do now but they still don’t allow the Parliament to function.
Naidu also said that people are solidly behind the Prime Minister on the issue of demonetisation. He said that while there may be some temporary difficulties, it will be good for the country in the long term.
Naidu also said that demonetisation was not a decision taken with electoral gains in mind but the overall good of the country. He said the bold move has such impact that even economists may not have seen such a thing.
He said that in several elections after demonetisation, BJP has won.
On a question related to whether the government plans reforms in political funding, Naidu said that a broad political consensus should be created on the issue at the earliest.
In a question related to the Union Budget before polls in five states, Naidu said that it is for the nation and not state specific.
Asked about a letter reportedly written by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy about a channel being named ‘Republic’, Naidu said that issue would be looked at from the rule position.


In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, political experts and Kashmir watchers have said that India has turned the territory into world’s largest open-air prison where all the basic rights of the people have been usurped.
The political experts and Kashmir watchers in their interviews and statements in Srinagar said that the presence of over one million Indian troops de-ployed across the occupied territory had already made the life of the Kashmiri people a hell. They said that the recent G20 meeting hosted by the Modi government in Srinagar brought more miseries to the oppressed Kashmiris.
The political experts and Kashmir watchers said occupied Kashmir has become the most militarised zone on this planet where India has snatched all basic rights of the people including the right to life. They deplored that the Kashmiris are being killed, tortured and arrested by Indian troops on a daily basis.
One of the political experts based in Srinagar on the condition of anonymity to evade reprisal of the Indian authorities told the media that the world rights bodies have already warned of genocide in IIOJK. He said that Indian troops have committed scores of massacres in the occupied territory to intimidate the Kashmiri people into submission.
The political experts and Kashmir watchers pointed out that the people of IIOJK have been vic-tims of Indian state terrorism for over 7 decades and 96,186 Kashmiris had fallen to the Indian bullets since January 1989 till 30 April, this year.
The Modi regime’s brutalities in Kashmir have no parallel in recent human history, they said, adding that the oppressed Kashmiris are waiting for the international community’s help.—KMS


Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday termed Singareni Collieries Company Limited as the jewel of the nation saying that the company is playing a vital role in meeting the power requirements of many south Indian state through its coal production.
Speaking on the SCCL during short term discussion in the Assembly, Chandrasekhar Rao said that the SCCL which began its operation in 1920 is growing by leaps and bounds.
He said that the company is now running with a share of 49:51 between the Centre and the State.
Listing out the achievements of the SCCL, the Chief Minister said that the coal company produced 600 lakh tones of coal during the year 2015-16 registering a 15 pc growth as against 3 pc prior to 2014.
He said that the SCCL was operating 46 mines- 30 underground and 16 open cast mines in the region. He said that as many as 56,866 workers are employed with the SCCL with 34,764 employed in underground mines and 10,427 in open cast mines.
He also said that the government has enhanced the ex-gratia for accidental deaths of workers of the company from Rs 7 lakh to 25 lakh.
He said that the TRS government has recently approved to revive the process of providing jobs to dependants of the workers recently.
Explaining about the company’s plans of expansion, Chandrasekhar Rao said that 20 new underground mines and 11 open cast mines would become inaugurated which would provide 11, 621 additional jobs.
He said despite getting losses due to underground mines, the company was continuing the operation only for the job security of workers.
He said the open casts were fetching higher profits. He also added that the company was foraying into the power generation segment also. (INN)


Bandits have robbed the Bhagwansingh's hardware in Trinicity.
Police reports indicate that the incident took place on Sunday night.
When employees arrived at the compound this morning they observed that the department containing power tools had been ransacked.
A cellphone outlet inside the store was also targetted.
Police were called in and have confirmed that power equipment and cellphones were missing.
It is not clear whether money was also taken from the establishment.
Investigations are ongoing.


Srinagar:Lakes and Waterway Development Authority (LAWDA) has demolished several illegal construction in and around the world famous Dal Lake, official sources said on Tuesday.
"LAWDA launched a demolishing drive at Ashiyee Bagh, Sada Kadal, Nigeen, Choudhary Bagh, Habbak, Shalimar and Kanikat on Monday," they added.
During the drive many illegal shops and other structures were demolished despite resistance from the local residents.LAWDA officials said the drive will continue against these illegal constructions.
Meanwhile, people questioned officials that when these illegal constructions were going on why did they not act and have demanded action against those who failed to discharge their duties on time.(UNI)


Guwahati, Oct 14 (IANS) Amid Durga Puja festivities, a moderate quake, measuring 3.3 on the Richter Scale, occurred in eastern Assam bordering Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, but no loss of life and damage to property was reported.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said that the tremors were felt in Assam's Lakhimpur district and adjoining Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday noon.
The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km from the surface.
Disaster management officials in Guwahati said that so far there have been no reports of any injury or damage to the property and other assets.
Successive earthquakes in the northeastern states, especially in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur, are keeping the authorities worried. A 6.4 magnitude quake had shaken Assam and parts of northeast region on April 28 causing damages to buildings, roads and other assets.
Seismologists consider the northeastern region as the sixth most earthquake-prone belt in the world.
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Police are continuing to carry out patrols around Doncaster Town Centre in a bid to clampdown on begging.
Residents raised concerns about the number of people asking shoppers for money at a Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting.
Following the meeting weekly patrols have been taking place.
Police officers have moved a number of beggars on in areas including Baxtergate and St Sepulchre Gate.
It was agreed at the last PACT meeting that the issue would remain one of the top priorities for the coming months.
Residents are asked to contact police on 101 to report any problems.


(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
Chile has declared 26 communes in the country's south-central
region to be wildfire risk areas as forest fires continue to rage,
which have claimed 26 lives and burning 286,198 hectares so far,
the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) said Tuesday, trend reports citing
The communes, or communities, have been placed on 'red alert'
given the chance of a large fire breaking out, Conaf Executive
Director Christian Little said at a press conference.
'We analyze temperature, relative humidity and wind speed
conditions,' along with such variables as the combustible biomass
naturally found on the forest floor, including twigs and pine
needles, he said.
'Given that the conditions are prone to spark and spread a fire,
we have launched an alert in the area,' Little added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture Minister Jose Guajardo warned of
'tough days' ahead due to 'high temperatures in Maule and
O'Higgins, and as of tomorrow in the Metropolitan Region,' where
the capital Santiago is located.
The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response
reported in its latest bulletin that 162 forest fires have been
brought under control and 80 blazes are still being fought.
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Security forces in the Central African Republic have beefed up their operations in the capital Bangui.
Police have been cracking down on former Seleka rebels turned politicians. Several former rebels were arrested as they were heading to a political party meeting on Thursday. Residents have welcomed the decision to have local police take a more active role in security in the country.
There’s been growing anger at French peacekeepers who have been handling security.


The Saudi Vision 2030 transformation plan has come under great public scrutiny. It has also aroused the interest of many outside the country. For the first time in Saudi history, a well-crafted plan has been displayed publicly. Over the years, we have seen many five-year plans but not much has been revealed about their successful completion.
While foreign investments are being welcomed and facilities offered to investors, the government should not forget those who have already come, invested and served the communityKhaled Almaeena


Crown Prince arrives in Jeddah from Riyadh
(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior arrived in Jeddah from Riyadh today.
He was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region; Prince Mishaal bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Jeddah; and a number of officials.
The Crown Prince was accompanied by a number of princes and officials.
The Crown Prince left Riyadh earlier today.
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Garhwa/Daltonganj : Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that politics of family and dynasty will not longer work in the country and the nation as the mandate of 2014 and 2019 made it clear that a common man can become the Prime Minister of the country and Chief Minister of the state.
Addressing a series of public meetings after-party nominee’s filed their candidature on the seats where polling will be held in the first phase spread across different areas of Garhwa and Palamu district Mr Das that those who indulge in family politics are against the democracy.
He said that after the formation of the state the JMM, Congress and RJD hampered the growth of the state for their vested interests and after 2014 his government has only done politics of development. He said that with an investment of Rs 1152 crore the Soan project si being completed.
He said that in the next two-three years this project will be completed after which farmers of Garhwa will be getting water through which they can grow three crops in a year. He said that the people have realised that the opposition wants only power whereas his government has interest in the empowerment of the women and their economic well being.
He said that in the last five years an effort has been made so that people in villages have facilities on par with the cities. Attacking the Congress party he said that it did not do anything for the people of Palamu and indulged only in politics in the name of the dam and was not interested in the benefits which the farmers will get if the dam is completed and said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who understood the problems of the people and
started the work on the project.
Mr Das said that after independence Jharkhand had only three medical colleges but under his tenure five more medical colleges have been added and said that it is the BJP government which has fulfilled the demands of the people of Palamu and within two years the medical college started functioning in the district.
The Chief Minister said that parties like JMM, Congress and RJD just want to grab the power and can adopt any means to fulfill their vested interests.
He said that these parties do politics in the name of poor and after coming to power forget them and asked the youth to vote for the BJP as it only indulges in politics of development.
He said that after formation of the state till 2014 due to scams and political instability the development of the state was halted and asked the people to make the comparisons themselves.
However, Mr Das said that he was not claiming that all things have improved but things have changed as compared to the past. He said that JMM and Congress have nothing to do with development.


Srinagar: Two policemen were on Friday critically injured after they were attacked by the suspected militants in Baghat area in Srinagar.
Officials said that militants fired upon the policemen at Baghat chowk.
They said the two policemen deployed at the spot were critically injured, adding that they have been evacuated to the hospital for treatment.
Officials informed that the area has been cordoned off while searches have been launched to nab the attackers—(KNO)
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"I have called leaders from Uttar Pradesh to discuss the situation in the state and strategy for the coming polls," party President Rajnath Singh told reporters here.
Describing the clashes in Muzaffarnagar as "very unfortunate", he said the Samajwadi Party government in the state was responsible for the situation there.
He said: "If the Congress-led government at the centre would have intervened on time this (the riots) could have been avoided".
Riots broke out in Muzaffarnagar Sep 7 and lasted for three days.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited the affected areas Monday.
--IANS (Posted on 17-09-2013)


(MENAFN) Despite this week's terrible earthquakes, the United States has decided not to engage Bashar Assad's regime in Syria. Numerous other nations have provided assistance to Turkey and Syria after the natural catastrophe caused extensive harm.
Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Department, informed reporters on Monday that although Washington is "a partner to the people of Syria," it would be “ironic, if not even counterproductive, for us to reach out to a government that has brutalized its people over the course of a dozen years now.”
Price argued that the United States had "humanitarian partners on the ground who can provide the type of assistance in the aftermath of these tragic earthquakes" instead. Additionally, he claimed that compared to other nations, Washington has "more humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria than any other country going forward."
On Monday, a series of devastating earthquakes that struck southern Turkey and western Syria caused nearly 4,000 fatalities and tens of thousands of injuries. Many nations have given support to Ankara and Damascus, sending personnel to aid with rescue operations, among other things. More than a hundred emergency response professionals from Russia have already arrived in both nations.
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(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
Japan stands ready to take 'decisive' steps in the foreign
exchange market if excessive yen moves persist, Finance Minister
Shunichi Suzuki said on Monday, in a fresh warning against
investors selling off the Japanese currency, reports citing .
'It's important for currencies to move stably, as sharp and
one-sided moves are undesirable,' Suzuki said in a post-cabinet
meeting news conference, referring to the yen's recent sharp
'We intervened the other day and we have said we would take
decisive steps as needed. There's no doubt this has guarded against
speculative moves,' he said.
Japan spent up to 2.8 trillion yen ($19.34 billion) intervening
in the foreign exchange market last month to prop up the yen when
it fell to a 24-year low near 146 yen. It was last trading at
144.75 to the dollar .
Asked about the large size of intervention, Suzuki said the
amount was decided by taking comprehensive factors into
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Importance of Horse Camp for Teens
You should know that when it comes to camping it is the time that many of the outdoor activities and also for the teens it is a perfect time that they can have to camp so as to have fun. You should know that camping is an important activity for just any person and hence the teens should have an opportunity to have fun or even to learn a few things that will vital to their lives.
You should know that horse camping itself is beneficial to the teens and that means that it is good to give them such a chance and you should not assume that the same activities in school would also be same as that of the horse camp.
You should know that the teens would get some of the benefits when they go to the horse camps, which are as shown below.
You should know that one of the benefits that the teens are going to get is that they will have a chance to get other interests not related to the schoolwork, which is an important part of development such as having the opportunity to ride the horse.
The horse camping will offer a great opportunity to you to form new categories while you make new ones as you will have a chance to meet new friends that will help reinvent yourselves.
The teens will participate in trailblazer that they like most and that will mean that they are going to have their skills develop to another level and that will be important to their skills.
Friendship is also another thing that the teens will benefit from as they will interact with the other teens and if they have the same goals and likes they will definitely become new friends which will be an important part of social life.
You should know that there are many benefits that the teens will get when it comes to the horse camp, as they will have the exposure to the activities that are vital to their overall body and the mental stimulation.
The horse camps will bring many benefits to the teens and one of the many of them is that they are going to do the things on their own and hence they will learn to depend on themselves.
You should know that the other benefit that the teens will get is that a chance to be more confident will arise whereby they will get involved in many activities such as horse riding from such they will view himself or herself in a completely new level.
The horse camps, therefore, have offered more than help but also the benefits that the teens will enjoy it more and hence they should be given an opportunity to go to horse camps.


(MENAFN) A contractor in Baltimore has agreed to relocate the processing of hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic wastewater from the site of last month's Norfolk Southern train derailment, following opposition from local officials. Clean Harbors of Baltimore Environmental Services announced on Tuesday that it will process approximately 600,000 to 800,000 gallons of water from East Palestine, Ohio elsewhere.
The derailment site had contracted with Clean Harbors to ship massive amounts of contaminated water to Baltimore, where the water would have been piped into the city's aging and leaky sewer system before being transported to the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. Last year, the state declared the plant to be on the brink of "catastrophic failure," and just last month, one of the plant's buildings dedicated to processing sewage sludge suffered a massive explosion, requiring its closure.
The Baltimore city council voted on Monday to ask the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider allowing the wastewater to be sent to Baltimore. However, the agency has refused to hear any objections, citing that blocking hazardous materials from interstate commerce would be a violation of the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution.
The situation has raised concerns among residents and officials about the safety of Baltimore's infrastructure and the potential health risks associated with the transportation and processing of toxic wastewater. While the relocation of the processing of the contaminated water is a positive step, there are still concerns about the safety of Baltimore's wastewater treatment infrastructure and the need for improved regulations to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
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By Sam Oditah
The Commissioner of Police in Abia, Mr Anthony Ogbizi, said the command had so far recovered more than 1,000 arms and ammunition from individuals and criminal suspects in the state.
Ogbizi said this in Umuahia on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the activities of the command.
He said that the feat was achieved after intensive search, in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
Idris ordered police commands across the country to mop up illegal arms and ammunition from the people.
The police commissioner said the recovered arms include; AK47, double-barrel guns, General Purpose Machines Guns, pump action guns and locally-made guns.
The police boss, who guided journalists on an inspection of the arms at the Central Police Station,said that the arms were recovered at different locations in the state.
He appealed to residents of the area to assist the police with useful information that could help the command to recover more arms.
Ogbizi also said that the command arrested a former Police Sgt, name withheld, for allegedly using commercial tricycle in Aba to rob and dispossess unsuspecting passengers of their valuables.
He said that the suspect, who was dismissed from the force about two years ago, was arrested after he and three others, allegedly robbed some people while on mobile police uniform.
Ogbizi said that the police had begun a manhunt for the other suspects now at large, adding that the command also arrested four persons in connection with alleged child trafficking.
He said the suspects, including two males and two females, connived to steal a four-year-old baby boy in Aba.
The police boss, who said that the suspects later sold the boy for N500, 000,assured the people that the command would spread its tentacle toward arresting the buyer.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, the former Police Sgt, admitted that he was arrested while in police uniform but denied being involved in any robbery.
He said that he went to meet his tailor in Aba when some policemen arrested him.
The suspect claimed that he was illegally dismissed, adding that he was still battling for his reinstatement.
The police commissioner gave assurance that the suspects, who include some suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) would be prosecuted at the end of police investigations.


- Says govt's success in controlling Delta variant also reason behind demand-side risks being eliminated
State Bank of Pakistan Governor Dr Reza Baqir has said that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided that the time had come to begin tapering, after Pakistan’s stronger-than-expected demand growth and a sense that the government had been successful in controlling the delta variant of the coronavirus.
Talking to CNBC, days after the central bank's MPC decided to hike its policy rate by 25 basis points to 7.25% for the next two months, Baqir said that the committee decided that the time had come to begin the process of tapering the considerable amount of monetary stimulus that the central bank has injected into the economy during Covid-19.
At this meeting of the MPC, there was a sense that the government had been quite successful in controlling the spread of the variant and therefore a risk to demand from that variant were limited: SBP Governor Dr Reza Baqir
“Compared to the last meeting two months ago, there were two new developments for the MPC — one was that the demand growth was stronger than previously anticipated. Imports, for example, grew 85% year on year and 11% month on month in August,” said Baqir.
The central bank chief said that the second key development in this meeting was that earlier, the MPC was concerned about how the Delta variant might impact Pakistan's economy. “However, at this meeting of the MPC, there was a sense that the government had been quite successful in controlling the spread of the variant and therefore a risk to demand from that variant were limited.”
Baqir said that the MPC thus concluded that the economic recovery underway in Pakistan was at a “more mature stage and therefore a greater emphasis is needed to ensure that there is a proper policy mix that entails a gradual reduction in the accommodation from the monetary policy side, and this is needed to protect the longevity of growth, to keep inflation expectations and also to ensure the current account deficit that has began to grow due to the economic recovery remains at sustainable levels.”
Talking about the US Fed tapering and its impact on Pakistan, the SBP governor said that its timetable would impact Pakistan through the entire asset class of high yielding emerging markets.
He said that the central bank is looking primarily at the extent to which high commodity prices in the international markets of oil, food and other may impact inflation in Pakistan beyond a “transitory manner.”


(MENAFN- Gulf Times)
The British-Dutch oil giant Shell said it was shutting down Europe's biggest refinery after a pre-dawn fire broke out at a power station on the vast site on Sunday.
Flames billowed into the sky over the port of Rotterdam after the blaze erupted at a high-voltage power station at the Shell Pernis refinery.
Firefighters brought the fire under control by around 6:00 am.
"Shell is in the process of shutting down all the units at the site," a Shell spokesman told AFP.
The units are all interconnected and "several of them are out of service due to the power outage caused by the fire," he said.
It takes "hours, or even several days" each time that operations are closed down or restarted, he said.
Shell did not confirm media reports that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit. Instead the company said it would "wait to know more about the circumstances of the incident."
According to the regional security authority, there were no toxic materials in the smoke.
Shell could not immediately disclose the extent of the damage, nor when the refinery would return to full capacity.
The refinery covers the area equivalent to 800 football pitches, and its pipework, if laid end to end, would be long enough to circle the Earth four times.
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(MENAFN – NewsBytes) Samsung is gearing up to introduce its Galaxy M62 model in the coming weeks. In the latest development, the handset has been spotted (via Mukul Sharma ) on the IMDA certification site with model number SM-M625F/DS, hinting at its imminent launch.
The listing reveals that the Galaxy M62 will arrive as a 4G model with NFC support, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Here’s our roundup.
The handset is likely to come with a 6.8-inch Full-HD+ (1080×2400 pixels) Super AMOLED screen with an aspect ratio of 20:9.
It will run on Android 11-based One UI 3.0 and pack a 7,000mAh battery with 25W fast-charging support.
For connectivity, the device will offer support for dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, a headphone jack, and a Type-C port.
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(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Vodafone Qatar will be the official Innovation Partner of Hospitality Qatar 2021, a flagship exhibition that provides a platform for experts to showcase the latest products and solutions in the industry. The event, which is open to the public, will take place at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) from November 8 to 11.
As Qatar prepares to host the world's biggest sporting event next year, the demand for digital services in the hospitality and tourism industries has significantly increased. At the event, Vodafone will demonstrate the company's latest technology solutions that address these needs, including its range of 5G-enabled and Internet of Things (IoT) products, all underpinned by its robust GigaNet network.
Mahday Saad E M al-Hebabi, Vodafone Qatar Enterprise Business Unit director, said:“At Vodafone Qatar, we are proud to be the Innovation Partner at Hospitality Qatar 2021, which is testament to our support of the industry to fulfil its digital ambitions.
“Through innovative business solutions such as Push-to-Talk plus, IoT Fleet Management and other customised solutions, Vodafone will provide the hospitality and tourism sectors in Qatar with the suitable tools to support the country's digital transformation and maintain its integral role in diversifying Qatar's economy for years to come.”
Vodafone's continued expansion of its range of digital solutions, including its IoT product portfolio, 5G and fibre networks, is evidence of its ongoing investment in enabling the adaption of businesses to the new, technology-first economy.
Its latest technologies and digital services are in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, amid the country's accelerating digital transformation by harnessing innovation. For more on Vodafone Qatar, visit
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(MENAFN- AzerNews) By Trend
Iranian representatives are participating in Iraq's first international exhibition of medical and health equipment.
Iraq's first international exhibition of medical and health equipment opened in the capital city of Baghdad on Thursday, IRNA news agency reported on June 28.
According to one of the organizers of the exhibition speaking during the opening ceremony, representatives from different countries, including Iran, China, Germany, Turkey, Lebanon are attending the event.
He added that some 25 foreign firms are present at the two-day exhibition.
From among Iranian companies, Sina Distribution Jen Co., Barakat Company Ltd., and Dorsa Group Co. have set up their pavilions there, representing their latest medical and health equipment as well as medicine.
More Iranian firms were supposed to take part in the exhibition, but they failed to do so due to lack of coordination and arrangement.
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Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Monday he has accepted the resignations of 12 deputy ministers, after last week promising to slim down the number of government ministers and their deputies by up to a quarter.
Five people earlier submitted their resignations, taking the total number of closed deputy-ministerial roles to 17.
Morawiecki said that the changes “largely” aimed to make government operations more efficient and that they were not “personal”.
On Twitter the Polish prime minister said the move was modelled on “the biggest Western democracies”.
He added that more positions would be cut within the next two weeks.
He earlier said at least 20 deputy ministerial positions would be closed.
Morawiecki on Monday also pledged to cut bonuses and rewards for ministers and their deputies, decrease the number of posts in government offices and reduce the number of government credit cards circulating in his administration.


PKK leader's weekend announcement was warmly received by ordinary people and politicians, who said it would contribute to national peace. NGOs in the southeast, in statements released, said the call would strengthen the belief that the reconciliation process will eventually produce peace.
The announcement of the call for the PKK's disarmament at the reconciliation meeting that took place between the People's Democratic Party (HDP) and Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan on Saturday has been welcomed throughout Turkey by Kurdish people, the Wisemen Committee, ministers and many others.
In the southeastern city of Diyarbakır, people welcomed the call for disarmament and said that it will greatly contribute to the reconciliation process to end Turkey's decades-old conflict with Kurdish insurgents, according to the Anadolu Agency.
Many have expressed their support for the call, while saying that they appreciate the fact that a concrete step will be taken. Representatives from nongovernmental organizations said that the call for disarmament would increase people's hope and belief about reaching a peaceful resolution.
Tahir Elçi, the president of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, said that the goal of disarmament is to speed up the reconciliation process and is a promising step toward peace. Abdurrahim Ay, the president of Mazlum-Der's Diyarbakır branch, highlighted that from now on both sides should resolve the issue through dialogue. Ay also said that the responsibilities of both sides will increase.
Others have also touched on the issue of responsibility and said democratization is a crucial aspect, as the government should take more steps toward removing social, cultural and representational barriers. Members of the Wisemen Committee also welcomed the call for disarmament and saw it as "a clean new page" for Turkish democracy.


On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo held an update on the state’s progress fighting the COVID-19 vaccine. He said that around 45% of the population has been vaccinated. Among the issues that the state needs to address, he said, was bolstering that vaccination rate, which has slowed. “Distribution has not slowed, we just have fewer people coming in,” Cuomo said. He said getting the ‘doubtful’ vaccinated is crucial to ending the pandemic.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]


Ayorinde also assured Lagosians that the government will do its best to ensure that the market is safe for everyone.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde announced to newsmen on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 that the Lagos state government has shut the Owonifari market, in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area.
Ayorinde said the government had to shut the market, based on reports that hoodlums were harassing innocent Lagosians and most times, robbing them at gun point.
He also said the affected traders have been moved to the new shopping complex at Isopakodowo, around Bolade area.
The government said the Owonifari market will be reconstructed into a befitting bus terminal with shelters that meet the standard of a mega city.
Ayorinde hinted that the state government is undertaking a beautification project, along Ilupeju bypass to PWD/Ikeja GRA.
He also assured Lagosians that the government will do its best to ensure that the market is safe for everyone.
Mr. Steve Ayorinde was the former Editor-In-Chief of theNational Mirror Newspaper


Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently announced that the Department of Justice will strictly enforce immigration laws in the United States. In a speech to the National Sheriff’s Association, Sessions said that the Department of Justice will “take the lawful and necessary actions to end the lawlessness.”
Sessions said that the Department of Justice will prioritize the removal of criminal aliens, those who have committed serious crimes or pose a threat to public safety. He also said that the Department of Justice will ensure that employers comply with immigration laws, and will take action against those who hire illegal immigrants.
Sessions also said that the Department of Justice will work to end the “catch and release” policy, which allows illegal immigrants to be released from custody while their cases are pending. He said that the Department of Justice will work with local law enforcement to ensure that illegal immigrants are detained and deported in a timely manner.
The Attorney General’s comments come as the Trump Administration continues to push for tougher immigration enforcement. President Trump recently signed an executive order that calls for the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border, and the hiring of thousands of additional border patrol agents.
The Trump Administration has also sought to limit the number of refugees entering the United States, and has sought to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which granted temporary protection to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
Sessions’ comments suggest that the Department of Justice will continue to take a hardline approach to immigration enforcement. While some may view this as a necessary step to ensure the safety of the United States, others may argue that such enforcement could lead to the separation of families and the deportation of individuals who are contributing to the economy.


Lucknow: Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh Saturday came down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of patronising the corrupt under the rural job scheme.
Talking to reporters here, Ramesh said due to the irregularities in implementation he often wondered whether the central government should stop giving any more funds to the state government under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme.
Ramesh said he had written five times in the past 18 months to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to act against errant bureaucrats but the state government has chosen to patronise the corrupt.
The Congress leader, while saying that the state government should recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into corruption in the scheme, claimed women and Dalits were being deprived of work in the state.
Ramesh said even the state government had admitted to irregularities in seven districts.


Somali police spokesman Sadiq Aden Ali gave more details about the clashes that took place today in the Jazeera beach on the outskirts of Mogadishu between Somali government forces and a militia group he described as bandits.
The spokesman said residents had been informed that there was a gang of thugs who were harassing commuters, so troops went to deal with it. He said there were casualties on both sides, but declined to comment on the number of casualties.
He also denied that any military personnel had gone to the scene to fight the government forces who had gone there to deal with the gang as he put it. “I do not know of any military forces that have fought there. The Somali National Army is a force that is respected by the Somali people. It was fought against groups that were manning checkpoints, not military forces,” he said.
Finally, a police spokesman said that the battlefields are now occupied by the Somali Police Force who are fighting against groups he described as bandits.


A collection of news and information related to Celebrity Apprentice (tv program) published by this site and its partners.
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Story | Apr 2, 2012Aubrey O'Day stormed off "Celebrity Apprentice" on Sunday, but assured fans via Twitter that she wasn't off the show. However, Aubrey O'Day and Lisa Lampanelli did allude to more things said on the show that were edited out....


Army Chief Voices ‘Serious Concerns’ About ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Change
Although other military leaders have expressed their support for a moratorium on the infamous “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding American gay and lesbian troops, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the U.S. Army chief of staff, on Tuesday expressed reservations to senators, including a receptive Sen. John McCain, about changing the law in wartime. –KA
Wait, before you go…
Los Angeles Times:
Gen. George W. Casey Jr., appearing before a Senate committee, said he supported studying revisions to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that bars gays from serving openly in the military. But he said he had some reservations about how changing the policy could affect deployed troops.
“I do have serious concerns about the impact of repeal of the law on a force that is fully engaged in two wars and has been at war for eight and half years,” Casey said. “We just don’t know the impacts on readiness and military effectiveness.”
“Exactly,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) murmured in response.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan was very badly hit by catastrophic flooding due to changes caused by coal emissions of the world but they needed climate justice, not any alms.
He was addressing a ceremony in Islamabad.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said that he was thankful for the countries that had helped flood victims of Pakistan. He said that the help provided in the hour of need will always be remembered.
He also said that devastations caused by floods have cost more than Rs30 billion to the country majorly in agriculture, industry and grain farming and more than 33 million people were affected due to catastrophic floods
Sharif said that Pakistan has been facing effects of climate change. He praised the efforts of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Federal Minister for Climate Sherry Rehman by saying that Bilawal and Sherry Rehman have made best of their efforts for flooded parts and flood victims of the country.
He said that Pakistan has become a victim of the Prime Minister and also appreciated the efforts of the Environment Ministry, Foreign Ministry and related institutions.
He said that Sindh and Balochistan were badly hit due to unprecedented floods. It was for the first time that Pakistan’s appeal was heard worldwide. He also said that Pakistan needed an aid package for devastations caused due to climate change but they didn’t want any kind of alms.
He said that the flooding due to heavy rainfalls had wreaked havoc in many parts of Pakistan. He also warned that it was a bitter reality that what has happened so far will not be limited by now but will have effects and consequences in the time to come.


(MENAFN- UkrinForm) An elderly woman was killed and three more people were injured in Kharkiv as a result of Russia's attack.
Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, wrote this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.
'An enemy strike. According to preliminary data, an S-300 missile hit a 4-story residential building in Kyivskyi district in Kharkiv. Three victims received minor injuries. Unfortunately, an elderly woman died. Her husband was nearby at the time of the strike and miraculously was not seriously injured,” he wrote. Read also: residential house struck by russian missile in downtown kharkiv
The regional governor wrote that the building was partially destroyed. 'Residents were evacuated. All emergency services continue to work at the scene,' Syniehubov wrote.
As earlier reported, Russian invaders targeted a residential building in the center of Kharkiv.
Photo: Head of the Kharkiv Garrison Serhii Melnyk
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Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger on Friday inaugurated capital projects worth about N360 million at the Ibrahim Babangida University Lapai.
Bello, while inaugurating the projects, said the state government would continue to accord priority attention to the basic need of the university.
He said that the government embarked on the projects because of its commitment to providing required infrastructure to ensure academic excellence.
He explained that the state government committed the sum of N110 million on the construction of convocations centre with good access roads.
He said that the about N70 million was spent on the procurement of two 500 KVA generators to enhance power supply.
“We have constructed a staff clinic with modern health facilities at the cost of N80 million’’, he added.
He explained that the project would go a long way in meeting the health care needs of the staff and students.
Bello, represented by Alhaji Ahmed Ktsu, the Deputy Governor, said that the state government spent N4 milion to upgrade the Micro finance bank building.
He said that, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) spent about N100 million to provide automated metro logical centre to the university.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Mohammad Maiturare, lauded the effort of the state government in providing peaceful atmosphere for academic excellence.
He called for more funding to enable the university provide basic infrastructure that would enhance academic learning.
He said the university was in dire need of additional hostels to accommodate rising increase in the number of students.
The vice chancellor explained that of the 11,000 students at the university, only 2,000 students were accommodated.
He, however, assured that the management of the institution had taken concrete measures to address its accommodation problem through collaboration with private developers.
Maiturare added that the second phase of the hostels project was expected to commence immediately after the completion of the first phase and its handing over to the university. (NAN)


New Mexico has adopted a new law that mandates all interstate transport to include the transportation of horses.
The measure passed the state senate and will go before the full state legislature on Tuesday.
The law is expected to come into effect in December, with the state government set to issue a final rule in the next few weeks.
The state has been in a dispute with the National Association of Counties over the right of towns and cities to set up their own transportation networks, and the legislation will clarify the rules for how towns and municipalities can set up transportation networks.
“The new law will make sure that everyone, no matter where they live, is safe and safe everywhere,” said state Sen. Brian Hultgren, a Republican who authored the measure.
“It makes sure we have the ability to move the people who are most neediest to those who need to be moved, the elderly and disabled, and those who are least able to make it to work, the disabled, those who cannot work because of physical limitations or health problems.
It makes sure that people can travel between their homes and work, between the home and the workplace and all other important areas.”
Hultberg said that since the law took effect last fall, the number of horse-drawn vehicles has grown from about 200,000 to more than 3.5 million.
The legislation was first proposed in 2015, but was delayed by an ongoing lawsuit by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Hultenberg and fellow Republican state Sen


Mr Tovosia said one of the key requirements of a memorandum signed between the Government and the movement is that the funds must be accounted for by the recipient.
“I can assure those who question the accounting procedure of this fund to know that it will be accounted for,” the minister said when responding to those who questioned how the money will be accounted for.
He said it is wrong to claim that the money would not be refunded as it’s like any public funds it will be properly acquitted.
The minister, who is also the MP for East Guadalcanal where the movement is based, has also rubbished claims that the organisation only represents the people of his area.
Instead, Mr Tovosia claimed that the Group represents the interests of the entire Guadalcanal, which is divided into eight regional groupings.
The organisation was registered in 1985 and its constitution clearly spells that in its objectives is to unite the native people of Guadalcanal, whether residing on the island or not.
Its constitution also provides for the appointment of auditors and to receive and approve an audited statement account of the accounts of the last financial year.
Mr Tovusia said all Guadalcanal people have in one way or the other support the movement and the objectives it stands for.
He had also accused the Leader of Opposition Dr Derek Sikua for doing nothing to help Gaenia’alu when he was the prime minister and as a Guadalcanalese.
Mr Tovusia said the movement had been seeking assistance since its inception and it took a “courageous Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, to support them”.
He said he was surprised that Dr Sikua had questioned the money when he had the opportunity in Parliament to question the allocation when the $1m was brought in the 2013 Budget for debate last year.
“I don’t know why he has now questioned the allocation when it was approved by parliament,” he said.
“Where were you Sikua?” asked Mr Tovusia.
He also rubbished claims that the money had already been used.
Mr Tovusia said the money has already safely deposited into the organisation’s bank account after it was shown to the people last week.
Meanwhile, Mr Tovusia said that aside the $1m, he through his tourism funding allocation had also delivered $200,000 to support the Gaenia’alu cultural centre, $100,000 for Avuavu tourism development and $30,000 towards the improvement of a huge stone-hole which is a tourist attraction.
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Minn. food charter sets one big menu
The menu has been chosen, and now comes the challenge of preparing all that has been ordered.
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Published On: May 7, 2022 05:02 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal
TANAHUN, May 7: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that all political parties are committed to making the electoral alliance among the ruling coalition victorious in the upcoming local polls. The PM also said that the nation needs the alliance at the moment.
Speaking at an election assembly in Damauli on Saturday, PM Deuba said that the coalition will be made successful.
He claimed that the NC-led alliance would last not only till the local elections but also till the provincial and federal elections.
Stating that a conspiracy was being hatched to break the alliance, PM Deuba said that such elements would be defeated through the elections. Deuba said that the only goal of the NC is to make the alliance a success. Prime Minister Deuba said that a few people had questioned if the local elections would even be held, adding that the country has become engrossed in elections. “Many people had the illusion that there would not be an election, but the country has set its full focus on polls at the moment,” PM Deuba said.
Adding that the people have become free from the rule of the Oli-led government, Deuba said that parliament was obstructed continuously during his tenure, disrupting the work of development.
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Making the connection: Delegation impressed by Willmar
WILLMAR -- There's something about Minnesota that makes Bengt Erik Lofgren feel comfortable.
It could be because 35 percent of Minnesotans have a Swedish heritage that Lofgren senses a "feeling of friendship" and the basis for "trust" that the Swedish businessman said is necessary for an international business relationship between Sweden and the United States.
Minnesota "is more li-ke Sweden" than any other state.
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Dalit leader and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from North-West Delhi, Udit Raj had vehemently raised the contentious ‘ghar wapsi’ campaign at the recently concluded party’s National Executive meet in Bengaluru.
He had said that the conversion program had spoiled India’s image on the world stage.
According to a report published in The Indian Express, the BJP leader had questioned party’s stand on the issue in the presence of PM Modi, party chief Amit Shah and other senior leaders.
The daily quoted its sources as saying that Udit Raj had asked the Prime Minister how he would face global leaders when he meets them on his tours abroad.
“I raised the issue because the opposition is spreading the word that minorities are unsafe under the BJP government and that we are against minorities. Time and again, they have raised it and the image of the country and the government has been hit by the campaign,” Udit Raj confirmed to The Indian Express.
A BJP leader, who had attended the meet, said that Udit Raj had passionately spoken that the Christian community in the country is feeling insecure and the international community is concerned about the toxic atmosphere created by the ‘ghar wapsi’ campaign.
He had also said that the party in its political resolution should send a strong message against such practices.
Udit Raj is also the national chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations.


When President Donald Trump nominates a Supreme Court justice tonight, Senate Democrats and Republicans will immediately face intense political pressure. Liberals are demanding that Democrats block the choice and the new president will urge Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to blow up longstanding rules to secure confirmation, the Associated Press reports. Federal . . .
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City Controller Alan Butkovitz today asked the Nutter administration to take over the salary costs for five staffers that were previously on the school district payroll.
Because they were paid through the district, those workers were not subject to a city ban on political activity. But Board of Ethics Executive Director Shane Creamer last month released an opinion from City Solicitor Shelley Smith that said those workers should be subject to the same rules as other city employees.
City Finance Director Rob Dubow said the city would assume the expense. Butkovitz last month said the combined paychecks of those staffers was $265,059. But the total cost for the city will be higher when you figure out the benefit costs, said Butkovitz's First Deputy City Solicitor Harvey Rice.
Once the workers are on the city payroll, they will not be allowed to be political. Rice said that the employees who had previously held political posts have stepped down from the positions. They will also all receive ethics training.


MTN CEO Wim
The President is said to have given Vanhellputte a chance to return to Uganda during a meeting with MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter, MTN Uganda Board Chairman Charles Mbire and acting Uganda CEO Gordian Kyomukama during their meeting at the Africa Now Conference last week
The discussion between the president and the MTN officials is that there was a plea from the MTN executives towards the president on behalf of Vanhellputte saying that the latter is a Ugandan who has lived in the country for more than five years in the country and he has a Ugandan wife Barbra Adoso and that the two have children together.
The MTN bosses also informed the President that
This is said to have concerned Mr Museveni who said he knew Engineer Owaraga at a personal level and that the latter had also served under the NRM government.
The revelation comes after Vanhelleputte sued the government of Uganda, challenging his deportation on grounds that it was irrational and illegal.
However, there has been an ongoing investigation against more MTN staff for allegedly compromising National Security using their positions at the company.


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KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) — Mainstream media in the country should allow themselves to be critical of the government now and then, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said that many were unwilling to criticise the government as they felt that they should support it all the way.
Dr Mahathir said the mainstream media also practised self-censorship, and this had given the wrong impression that they were being censored by the government.
“So, the government sometimes gets lopsided views about what the public is thinking. They (media) think that they should self-censor.
“And, of course, this gives the impression that it’s the government who’s restricting them,” he said at the inaugural Malaysia-Asean Bloggers Forum opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here today.
Dr Mahathir, who is also patron of Blog House Malaysia which organises the event, said constructive criticism should be given when it was for the betterment of the country.
He said while bloggers should give fair treatment to the government and the people through their blogsites, they themselves should be treated fairly and justly.
About 35 bloggers from the region are taking part in the forum which carries the theme “Blogging Mindfully and Responsibly”. — BERNAMA


Real estate loans by Qatari banks hit USD23b
(MENAFN) Assets and liabilities of Qatari banks went up 1.5 percent, or USD3.5 billion, reaching USD249 billion last month versus USD245.5 billion in the month before it, with total credit facilities to the real estate sector hitting USD23.2 billion, The Peninsula Qatar reported
Qatar Central Bank (QCB) released figures that show that Banks' deposits at the QCB fell to USD8.5 billion in December. Government and public sector deposits have also decreased reaching USD62.6 billion
However, total government and the public sector loans have increased by USD544 million reaching USD65.2 billion
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Qatar participates in conference of Arab Parliaments
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Speaker of Advisory (Shura) Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud participating in the third conference of Arab Parliament and heads of Arab parliaments in Cairo as head of Qatar's delegation.
The conference, held yesterday, discussed the phenomenon of terrorism according to a new approach, comprehensive vision and social, intellectual, economic and security measures against all forms of terrorism and to uproot it in all parts of the Arab world.
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.


Rajasthan government relaxes family planning norms
The Rajasthan state government has relaxed the law that bans government employees from having a third child.
Until now, government employees in Rajasthan were banned from having more than two children. The state government has decided to permit government servants to have a third child, but the relaxation applies only for those who have remarried.
The decision was made at the cabinet meeting presided over by the Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundara Raje.
The legislation prohibiting government servants from having more than two children was passed in the year 2000. According to the rule, persons with three or more children were disqualified from government jobs. Those who had their third child after getting the job were denied promotions and certain benefits.


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Prophet: Isaiah 1: 1-31
Isaiah’s prophecy involves a rebellion against Israel. It is also against the wrong that they have done and how they follow the wrong people and do not know their master
Prophet: Jeremiah 2: 1-37
Jeremiah had a vision and Jeremiah was told to go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem. Jeremiah was to stand up against the wrong that they have all done.
Prophet: Lamentations Chp 1-5
The Prophet was explaining how we as people have crowned the wrong person and that we all have sinned against God, and we need to fix that to make it better.
Prophet: Ezekiel 5: 1-17
In his prophecy Ezekiel was telling us how we have the wrong judgement against the sins and also against the wrong doers.


Bahrain breaks up protests over Saudi execution of cleric
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Police in Bahrain used tear gas on Saturday to disperse protesters demonstrating over Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shia cleric, witnesses said.
Protesters shouted slogans and clashed with police, but no casualties were reported.
Small demonstrations were reported in Shia-majority villages Jidhafs and Malikiya west and south of the capital.
There were calls for more demonstrations in the evening.
Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of the protests that broke out in Saudi Arabia's east in 2011, was among 47 people executed in the kingdom on Saturday.
Bahrain, which has itself faced unrest from its Shia majority population, has backed Riyadh over the executions.
Authorities said that they would take "all necessary legal measures" against any "negative" actions in response to the death sentences, which they would consider as "inciting sedition and threatening civil order".
They also warned of legal measures against anyone who used "social media networks to spread rumours that influence security".
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Vijayawada: BJP asserts its opposition to 3 capitals
- Party state chief Veerraju declares that the party supports Amaravati as the sole capital of state
- Reminds that the BJP govt at the Centre has even allocated funds for the development of Amaravati
- Alleges diversion of funds allocated by the Centre for rural development to other programmes by YSRCP govt
Vijayawada: BJP state president Somu Veerraju said the party opposes the three capitals for Andhra Pradesh and blamed that the regional parties for the present situation on state capital. He said the BJP supports Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
Veerraju addressed the state party office-bearers meeting at the party state office here on Thursday.
He said the Central government has sanctioned funds in the 2022-23 Budget for construction of the Amaravati capital. "The Union government is sanctioning grants for the development of Andhra Pradesh and said and alleged that the YSRCP and the TDP are always trying to blame the BJP on various issues.
He said that the Union government is taking special interest in Andhra Pradesh and allocating funds for its development. He recalled during the TDP rule the BJP had sanctioned Rs 30,000 crore under the MNREGS scheme. He alleged the Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has no intention to develop the rural areas and the state government is diverting the funds sanctioned for the development of the state.
The BJP state chief said that the BJP government at the Centre is ready to sanction funds for the railway projects in Andhra Pradesh but the state government is not taking initiative for land acquisition and allocation of funds under its share.
He also criticised the YSRCP government for not taking measures to check the escalating prices of cement, sand and steel in the state which are still dragging down construction activity affecting development and livelihoods of lakhs of people.
Member of Parliament Y Sujana Chowdary in his speech appealed to the cadres to work hard to strengthen the party.
BJP national general secretary Daggubati Purandeswari, national leader Sunil Deodhar, former state president Kanna Lakshminarayana and other leaders attended the office-bearers meeting.


The United States has the world’s highest incarceration rate—and efforts to reduce it have been the focus of studies by leading academics, advocacy groups and policymakers.
Most recognize that if significant change is going to come, it will be at the state level, where the majority of prisoners are held—and for the past decade or so, states have been pursuing strategies for reforming sentencing codes . . .
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General News of Thursday, 30 June 2016
Deputy Minister of the Ashanti Region, Andy Osei Okrah is hopeful the Police will find the persons who attacked some National Democratic Congress executives during President Mahama’s ‘Accounting to the People Tour’ in the Ashanti Region.
According to him, the matter has been reported to the Police and “once it has been reported to the Police I think they will take it from there.”
“We just heard the news that some stones were thrown and because we don’t want to focus on those areas and to focus on what the President is doing in the Ashanti Region, we are not putting the premium on that and to focus on what can help the people.”
The Ashanti Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), confirmed to Citi News an attack on regional executives of the party who were part of President Mahama’s convoy.
Ashanti Region one of the safest places in Ghana But speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Okrah insisted that despite the incident, the Ashanti reason is still one of the safest places in the country.
He argued that criminal activities are minimal as compared to other areas in the country. “He didn’t come here to account for security. He only came to account for the things he has done for them in these various areas.
I don’t want us to veer into security…and obviously, the Ashanti Region is one of the safest places that we are in now. All the issues with armed robbery cases have been handled so we don’t want to go to security matters.”
The Deputy Minister also explained that the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) is on top of security issues in the region and will confront any disturbance should it come up. “We are in charge of REGSEC and we know what we are talking about.
Day and night, every issue that we have to deal with, we have confronted them,” he added. He also used the opportunity to explain what the President has been doing in the region.


Congress-JDS embarrassed by Hassan representatives' support to BJP
Mar 30, 2019, 4:08 PM IST
Karnataka PWD minister and JD(S) leader HD Revanna and local Congress leaders were left red-faced when Congress workers shouted slogans against the party and said that they will support the BJP on Friday. Congress workers refused to campaign for JD(S) candidate Prajwal Revanna, who is supported by Congress in the Hassan constituency. It was an embarrassment for the coalition government as the local party workers said that they will support A Manju, a candidate from BJP, who had quit the party and joined the BJP recently after he was not given the ticket to contest from Hassan.


PM to pay day-long visit to Lahore today
Prime Minister Imran Khan will pay a day-long visit to Lahore today.
During his stay, the Prime Minister will meet Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.
A press release issued by the Central media department of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said the members of the provincial assembly and provincial cabinet will also call on the Prime Minister.
Besides, Prime Minister Imran Khan is also scheduled to meet leaders of local chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.


Ericsson Cuts 1,400 Jobs In Sweden
International telecom giant Ericsson (ERIC) is cutting 1,400 jobs in its home market of Sweden as part of a plan to reduce costs.
The company had earlier announced plans to cut costs by $880 million U.S. by the end of this year as demand wanes in markets such as North America.
The company added that additional job cuts in other countries are likely to be announced in coming days.
Ericsson last made staff cuts in 2017 when it laid off thousands of employees to help the company recover from steep financial losses.
Ericsson says its has reached agreements with Swedish unions on how to manage headcount reductions and plans to make the cuts through a voluntary program.
Ericsson's stock is down 43% over the past 12 months and trading at $5.76 U.S. per share.
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On Tuesday, Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) founder-president Prof Kodandaram alleged that the state government was not solving the problems of government teachers. He took part in a protest programme conducted by government teachers' unions like JACTO and UPSC at Indira Park.
TJS leader said that it was unfortunate that teachers who had come to participate in the protest program were arrested by the state police. He said the credit goes to the government and said that the teachers who are supposed to be in classrooms are in jails. Prof Kodandaram said that all the demands of the teachers should be approved by the government.
He said that the government should hold a meeting with teachers immediately, citing that all government schools need to be properly run. He also demanded that the appropriate number of teachers should be recruited immediately.


Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Congress chief Prasad Harichandan on Tuesday claimed that the statewide bandh on Mahanadi water dispute was peaceful and successful.
“Even though the state government attempted to foil the bandh, people extended their support to the cause making it successful. I thank people of Odisha for their support,” said Harichandan.
He said the support of the people across the state was spontaneous and the workers of the party come together to make it a success.
He also blamed the state government for detaining around 3,000 Congress activists during the Odisha bandh.
Leader of opposition and senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra thanked the people for their support to the dawn-to-dusk shutdown across the state.
He said the Chhattisgarh and Odisha governments are responsible for the Mahanadi water disputes.


The Azusa City Council will decide Monday whether to place a sales tax increase before voters in March.
The city has been discussing a possible sales tax increase since April, when city staff notified the council and the public it is facing potential deficits between $1.5 million and $3.3 million in the next five fiscal years.
Several members of the City Council expressed concern and outright distaste for a sales tax increase at last week’s council meeting.
Councilman Uriel Macias said he hoped the city could balance its budget by making further cuts instead of increasing taxes.
“I understand that we have a growing city, but we also have to show faith on our part,” Macias said. “I don’t think we have gone far enough to tighten our belts.”
However, with the prospect of other agencies seeking to grab the last three-quarter percent before the local rate hits the state cap of 10.25%, City Manager Sergio Gonzalez has encouraged the council to consider placing the tax increase on the March ballot.
“Our fear is that it’s a missed opportunity if another agency in the county passes a countywide tax increase because it would preclude us from maintaining local control of those dollars,” Gonzalez said in April.
The city has taken other measures to decrease its spending and increase revenue — saving $324,000 by restructuring the city’s human resources department, replacing gas vehicles with electric ones and freezing a vacant position in the City Manager’s office and raising $1 million a year by increasing the city’s assessment on hazardous waste facilities in the city — but the projected deficits far outpace those measures.
To help determine the need for the sales tax increase, the city spent $100,000 to do public outreach and polling regarding the city’s finances and its spending priorities.
Of the 363 residents polled in an anonymous survey, 40% said there was some need and 36% said there was a great need for the city go seek additional funding to achieve the level of city services they want and need, according to survey results released by the city.
Four San Gabriel Valley cities approved sales tax increases Nov 5. — Irwindale, Monrovia, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena. Voters in Alhambra and West Covina are also set to decide on sales tax increases in March.


Two parks in Waterford are closed Wednesday after officials said too many people were going there and not taking COVID-19 precautions.
River Park and Trail Head will be closed through August.
The city manager said people have been vandalizing the facilities and littering.
The city is putting up “no parking” signs along the property to make it more difficult for people to come into the park.
Continue Reading on KCRA


Sokoto government has expressed sadness over the death of six Ekiti doctors which occurred along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway on their way to Sokoto for the 56th annual general conference of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
Making known the government’s condolence, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said the unfortunate incidence has left Sokoto people traumatised and has cast a huge shadow over the conference.
He said Sokoto government has already sent a condolence letter to Ekiti state government to condole them over the incident.
While declaring open the NMA’s annual conference in Sokoto Tuesday, Tambuwal urged doctors to uphold the ethics of their profession and promote virtue that will enhance their profession in the country.
He said the the National Health Act, whose operations the conference seeks to implement, will help in achieving universal health coverage and sustain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said the Sokoto state government has already internalised the National health Act and already initiated provision of healthcare insurance for communities and public servants in the state.