#mp crime branch number

[beardedmrbean]

Hundreds of people wrongly convicted in the Post Office scandal are set to have their names cleared under new legislation planned by the government.

The law is expected to come into effect by the end of July and will apply to convictions in England and Wales.

It will apply to convictions meeting specific criteria and is expected to clear the majority of victims.

The government said the possible exoneration of some genuinely guilty of crimes was "a price worth paying".

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted due to faulty software.

Incorrect information provided by a computer system called Horizon, developed by Japanese firm Fujitsu, meant that sub-postmasters and postmistresses were prosecuted for stealing money.

Many of those convicted went to prison for false accounting and theft. Many were financially ruined.

Some sub-postmasters caught up in the scandal have died or taken their own lives in the intervening years. So far, 102 convictions have been overturned.

Keith Bell had been a sub-postmaster in Stockton-on-Tees since 1985, but like hundreds of others, he started noticing discrepancies in his accounts after Horizon was installed in his branch.

He called Post Office helplines, but was given little support. He spent more than £12,000 of his own money to make up the shortfalls, and eventually delayed some transactions to try to balance the books.

He was convicted of false accounting in 2002 and had to do 200 hours of community service.

He didn't challenge his conviction at the time, as he didn't have the means to take on the Post Office, and he believed he had been at fault.

But now the 75-year-old wants his name cleared and expects his conviction to be quashed.

"I'm relieved they are going to quash all the convictions, which is long overdue," he said in response to the announcement on Thursday. "It's a relief to be able to talk to friends. It's a relief to be able to look people in the eye now."

Post Office scandal: The Horizon saga explained

How do the Post Office scandal compensation schemes work?

The issue was thrust back into the spotlight by an ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, earlier this year.

Criticism had said that the process for overturning convictions and getting compensation was far too slow.

There are three main schemes aimed at groups of victims who had different experiences of the scandal - but the schemes have been accused of being long-winded and complicated.

Announcing the plans, Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake said the legislation was likely to "exonerate a number of people who were, in fact, guilty of a crime".

But he said: "The government accepts that this is a price worth paying in order to ensure that many innocent people are exonerated."

Some 700 people were prosecuted by the Post Office. Another 283 cases were brought by other agencies including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Prosecutions by the DWP will not be quashed under the new law.

Mr Hollinrake said the new legislation would overturn all convictions that met certain criteria. It will only cover:

convictions from the Post Office and CPS

"relevant offences", such as theft and false accounting

sub-postmasters and their employees or family members

cases where the offence took place during the time that the Horizon system (and its pilots) was in operation

cases where the convicted person was working in a Post Office that was using the Horizon system software (including relevant pilot schemes)

cases in England and Wales

However, the government said it would work with the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to ensure their schemes to quash convictions were "compatible with the UK compensation scheme".

Labour MP Kevan Jones said he welcomed news of the legislation but added it was vital that the government set aside enough time for the new law to be passed "as quickly as possible".

"There are some initial key questions that need answering, including whether the Post Office's Capture system counts as a 'pilot' of the Horizon system for the purposes of this bill."

Mr Hollinrake added that he recognised the "constitutional sensitivity" of the planned legislation, but added it did not set a precedent for the future relationship between the government, Parliament and the judiciary.

"The scale and circumstances of this prosecutorial misconduct demands an exceptional response," he said.

"We are keen to ensure that the legislation achieves its goal of bringing prompt justice to all of those who were wrongfully convicted as a result of the scandal, followed by rapid financial redress."

[scruggzi]

The UK and US systems are very different especially taking about the presidential system so there are lessons to learn but also voting strategy in these systems should differ as a result.

1. We do not elect the prime minister nationally in the UK. The PM is usually the leader of the party with the most seats.

2. We have no separation of powers. The executive and legislative branches are decided at the same election and most of the executive branch also hold positions in the legislature.

3. We have inherited (Monarch, Some Lords) and appointed (Some Lords, Supreme Court) aspects of our system.

4. The Supreme Court is appointed via a selection board including leading legal figures and is not directly chosen on a whim by the PM.

What does this mean for the US?

1. The Greens (mostly leftist environmental party with some support from rural conservatives who enjoy nice walks in the countryside) made very strong use of targeted campaigning. They made it clear they wanted to be a progressive legislative voice under a Labour government and targeted very specific races. This allowed them to get 4 MPs on the same number of votes as Reform (fascists) on only half the vote whilst not splitting the left vote in closer races between Labour and the Conservatives.

This is not an option in the US Presidential race. There is one vote split up via the electoral collage. Any vote not for the main two will have no impact on the outcome except denying that vote to someone who might otherwise win.

2. Reform split the right wing vote letting in more Labour MPs because they did not target a very small number of seats but ran a large-scale campaign spreading themselves and their resources across too many races. They ended up with the same result as the Greens for twice the vote.

In the US you have no third party right wing candidate or even a sane centre-right Republican to split the vote. You have Biden and Harris or a Trump administration open about a desire for dictatorship. In the UK we can use congressional style tactical voting in the election which changes executive government. This is not an option in the US.

3. Having an untouchable head of state above the law SUCKS, even when they are mostly interested in gardening/covering up their family's sex crimes and don't officially get all that involved. You do not want Trump in that position.

4. The role of the President in appointing the supreme court is the reason you are staring down the barrel of literal dictatorship. Our system is relatively new (used to be part of the unelected House of Lords) and still has enough resilience to allow the court to repeatedly call the government on its shit even when judges were appointed during their tenure in office. This means it's not really a factor in elections. Yours doesn't and that's why it's a huge factor. Even if Trump dies of overwhelming hubris six months in, he could and has done potentially irreparable damage to the systems of government.

Conclusion: if you are wavering, don't. Hold your nose. Vote Democrat for President. Cling to the least worst option with your teeth whilst you still can.

Focus more nuanced efforts to get more progressive voices in targeted smaller scale races. You've got the huge advantage of structural democracy in so many areas (police, education, county, state, it's all over the place). They have relatively low turnout and the Green strategy of careful targeting of the right race can really work.

(Source: I have a PHD in media/politics focused on electioneering)

TLDR: The election is a bus not a taxi. You won't get a lift directly to your house, so go for the one closest to home and then start walking, because the other guy will drive you straight off a bridge.

Hey US folks, I think maybe the lessons to learn from the UK election here are:

voting matters; this is the clearest transition of power in decades, and the Tories lost to Labour big time

the fascists will almost always turn out in record numbers when there's power on offer; 4 million of them did, in fact, and they now have a seat in parliament

splitting the vote is a bad idea; part of the reason this was such a big loss for the Tories is that so many people did vote Reform and even in a much more equitable not-two-party voting process, that still made a difference. (Folks also voted Green but due to luck and mathematics, that seems to have made less of a difference; this could have turned out very differently).

Labour has done a lot of appalling shit, just like the Democratic party, but they are not literal fascists like the Reform folks, and not assholes like the Tories.

[thechopal]

आश्चर्य- एक ही घर में बारात लेकर पहुँचे 7 दूल्हे, आगे लगा मिला ताला, फिर जो हुआ....

आश्चर्य- एक ही घर में बारात लेकर पहुँचे 7 दूल्हे, आगे लगा मिला ताला, फिर जो हुआ….

मध्य प्रदेश की राजधानी भोपाल में एक मामला सामने आया है. शुक्रवार को यहां के कोलार थाने में कई दूल्हे इकट्ठा हुए थे. इन सभी की पुलिस से यह शिकायत थी कि जब ये बारात लेकर यहां पहुंचे तो, न तो दुल्हन मिली और न शादी करने वाले. दूल्हों ने यह भी आरोप लगाया कि शादी कराने वाली संस्था शगुन जन कल्याण सेवा समिति द्वारा उनसे 20-20 हजार रुपए भी लिए गए थे, वहीं फिलहाल कोलार थाना पुलिस ने दुल्हों की शिकायत पर…

[commonsensewizard]

The Founders Were Geniuses

I have a B.A. in History and am working on my M.A. in Government with focus on International Relations. I have studied with great care the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Federalist Papers and the Articles of Confederation. I have read many of the personal communique’s of our founders, and have also studied the writings of the 18th century British MP Edmund Burke, who is fondly referred to as the Father of Conservatism, and written a collegiate essay on his views of the American Revolution. 

The idea of separation of powers within a government construct has been around since at least Aristotle. When the founders of the United States gathered to throw off the yoke of the British Empire, they were keen on doing all they could to bring as much immunity from a tyrannical government as possible. They were well aware of historical precedents, political philosophies, and current events of social upheaval within Europe. All of their personal experiences were combined with their own knowledge and wisdom, along with history and political philosophy. 

What they came up with has stood the test of more than two-hundred and forty years. To say it is perfect would be foolish at worst, naive at best. No form of government run by man will ever be classified in such a term. To denounce our form of government because the men who formed it were slave owners, economic opportunists, conquerors of native peoples, elitists, and held the view that men were superior to women; is to think men of the 18th century should be judged by 21st century standards and that these aspects of their character should be a stain on what they created. People should always remember that the only one who was qualified to throw the first stone...didn’t.

No, our form of government should be judged on its merits over the last nearly two and a half centuries. Of course, liberal progressives will laugh at this statement, mainly because they live their lives looking through rose colored, utopian scented spectacles that only allow them to see the positives in their dreams and smell the lilacs of impossibilities. What they fail to see is what is transpiring right before their lying eyes, in real time...right now. For there is a concerted effort to oust a duly elected president at any cost, by any means, through any charge...manufactured or not. This is fascinating to watch the genius of our founders play out. No other impeachment ‘process’ has taken this perilous of a route. What is happening in D.C. right now is more dangerous to the foundation of our Constitution than the Civil War was. This isn’t an outside force of arms marching to overthrow the United States. No, this is an attempt at an inside coup to tell sixty-three million Americans their vote doesn’t matter; due process doesn’t matter; innocent until proven guilty doesn’t matter; the right to face your accuser doesn’t matter; the right to see the plaintiff’s evidence doesn’t matter; the right to cross examine doesn’t matter; the right to call your own witnesses doesn’t matter; and the powers invoked to the president of the United States by Constitutional mandate doesn’t matter. And I could go on, but those are the high points. And if these enemies of the State are successful, then all of us...ALL of us...are in the same sinking boat. The rule of law in this country will be in tatters and its destiny placed in the hands who think laws don’t matter. And this is where the genius of our founders will be seen, and at its finest hour.

The House of Representatives, the founders declared, would be the only branch of our government who could wield the power of impeachment. The executive and judicial branches of the government are not allowed to do so. Once the House approves articles of impeachment, their job is OVER as a body. It only takes a simple majority in the House to approve impeachment articles. Only the House counsel(s) are in the Senate to act as prosecutor before them. This is as it should be. The House of Representatives is made up of legislators who are placed in office by their district constituents in the state they are from. The number of representatives from each state is based on population. The Senate is made up of two senators from each state, each being elected by voters in their respective states.  In other words, these two groups are as democratically elected as we get. With Representatives and Senators, mob rules. Popular votes are all that matter in these races. When they go to the capitol, those who voted them into office are then to have their best interests at the heart of the legislators selected. It doesn’t work out that way, but then again...what government is perfect.

The United States Senate is another aspect of the founders’ genius. Articles of Impeachment, once passed, goes to them. The trial of the impeached president takes place in this chamber. The House has no more say as a body. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court sits in as judge, but has no power over the proceedings other than in a ministerial capacity to arbitrate dissensions for both sides. After the case has been presented, it takes a two thirds super majority to convict. This assures that no matter which party controls the Senate, it will be a hard mountain to climb to remove a duly elected president unless the charges of high crimes and misdemeanors are clear and concise.

What Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler are doing, along with their other criminal cronies, is beyond the pale of just practices. Secret meetings? Unknown witnesses with third party information? No questions allowed from the other side? Selected leaks to the media? Hearsay being included as evidence? Transcripts being put in the public record when read as a parody? Since when did ‘reading between the lines’ become valid evidence of wrongdoing? If they can do this to a president, and open this Pandora’s Box of making up the rules as you go; do not think for one minute this will never trickle down to the common citizen. It’s almost there now. 

Our founders need to be revered, not reviled. For not only did they separate the legislative branch powers, but they kept the judicial branch out of impeachment altogether, except for the Chief Justice being involved in nothing more than a figure head position during the senate proceedings. Even the Chief Justice has no vote in the matter. Hamilton was adamant in an independent judiciary, and that is why no federal judges are elected. Federal judges have no skin in the game of politics. For if they did, then they would be beholden to the ones who put them on the bench.

So what we are seeing is a blatant attempt to circumvent the Constitution by a political party establishment who knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, they have no candidate among them who can defeat Donald Trump. The only way to defeat him is to remove him by establishing the best kangaroo court they can muster and hope beyond all hope that it will work. Maybe even make him so tired of the fight he’ll just resign like Nixon did. The difference is Nixon knew the jig was up. Trump knows there isn’t a prayer the senate can snag a two thirds majority to oust him. The only other hope they have is to damage the public perception of Trump to such a degree people will get tired of it and simply not rally around one so tarnished over the last four years. What they don’t realize is that the majority of the American people do not approve of what is going on, and the massive decrease of money going into the DNC and to the poor losers running for the Democratic nomination is a sign of their political anemia.

The final thing the Democrats have missed out on, is that the founders...even though they lived in the 18th century and owned slaves and were economic opportunists and Indian conquerors and misogynists and elitist snobs...were even then FAR smarter and vastly more intelligent than the likes of them. And all of us are going to be better off for it in the long run.         

[ankoku-teion]

We don't have a president. It's a different system.

For you, the head of state is also the head of the executive branch. In the UK those are separate roles.

The queen king is the head of state. And the prime minister is the executive.

We don't elect the prime minister directly, we elect our local MP, who then goes to parliament. Then the house of commons chooses the prime minister from among their own number.

The party with the most seats always chooses their own leader to be PM. And if the PM stands down as leader of their party, then the party chooses a new leader, who becomes PM by default.

E.g. after Brexit, David Cameron decided to resign. so the Tories had an internal leadership contest, and chose Liz Truss to replace him.

Because of the way the Tories work, their leader is chosen by a mixture of their MPs and a couple hundred of their wealthy donors. So Theresa May became PM without a public vote.

Then, she chose to call a general election and barely scraped through. Being forced to ally her party with the DUP, who ha links to terrorism and organised crime in the 80s.

In 2019 she was forced to resign and Boris Johnson was chosen to replace her as party leader. Which made him PM by default.

He immediately called a general election and won with a slim majority.

after COVID Boris was forced to resign in shame because of his actions, and Liz Truss was chosen as party leader to replace him.

Lis Truss did NOT call an election. And instead decided to crash the economy over night. She lasted a grand total of 49 days before she too resigned in shame over her stupid idea to give rich people free money.

She never faced any kind of public vote and was entirely unelected.

She was swiftly replaced by Rishi Sunak. Who also chose NOT to have an election and was this also an entirely unelected PM.

However Rishi DID face a public vote in the end and LOST. That was the 2024 election.

The Labour Party works a bit differently. The party leader is chosen by a semi-public vote. Every registered party member gets to vote on the leader, similar to a US primary vote.

Just going to post this

[bharatlivenewsmedia]

Odisha Crime Branch arrests three for selling mobile numbers to cyber criminals 

Odisha Crime Branch arrests three for selling mobile numbers to cyber criminals  The cyber fraudsters used to create fake WhatsApp accounts of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and requested money from a few MPs. The cyber fraudsters used to create fake WhatsApp accounts of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and requested money from a few MPs. Go to Source

[hauntingthepithofyourmarrow]

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟 | 𝕊𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕠 & 𝕃𝕖𝕧𝕚

@leastregrets​

The phantom of a man had made a fatal error.

He’d stepped into a watery portal one afternoon and fate plunged him into a world he could not escape from. Try as he might, time and time again. The spectre could not cross back over to his own world. The idea of escape swiftly dimmed from his mind and he latched onto the made up mission; that this world had unfinished business for him. But as the days drifted by, it felt more like a personal vendetta that gnawed away at his black heart more and more each day. It was a harsh place to live, full of unbalanced savagery, kill or be killed. Living within this domain had its direct affects, for better or worse. 

Instead of fighting demons, he fought titans --->whenever he felt like it. Bit of a wild rouge due to pure frustration. Upon occasion he’d partake in an unsavory line of work. Sabito would take on a mark or a hit. Someone to be assassinated. Usually a corrupted, money hungry politician their world would be better off without.  The other tended to be a cliched military leader, high on the octanes of power. Surpassing many other peoples boundaries and comfort levels. Both professions tended to be thick with humans too busy, selfishly steeping themselves in their own personal grudges to care. That is until, it was too late. 

Sabito justified his actions by telling himself he was culling the land of corruption, so that justice and peace had a better chance at securing a foothold within this hellacious realm reign. Oftentimes the coin he earned went right back into the common people coffers, the ones that needed it the most. 

      It was the only thing that kept him sane in an insane world.

But what he did, who he was and what he was about - was carefully concealed for it really did not concern anyone. 

That was until a fateful day, when everything deemed to change.

彡

Ｌｅｖｉ   Ａｃｋｅｒｍａｎ

There was a long, dragged out pause, full of intention. 

   Letting the gravity of the  name  sink  in.

“He. Is the man I want you to kill.” 

The up and coming crime boss before Sabito was a force to be reckoned with. Captivating in her own manner with her icy blue-grey hair and chilly eloquence. She was an enigma, much like himself. The Underground was in for a chaotic upheaval, a revolution of circumstances.

“My assassin,” she spoke succinctly. “Bring me his head and I will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams~” She purred with a voice like sultry velvet while sitting comfortably at her desk. Long legs crossed elegantly before she eyed the otherworldly man with his reputation proceeding him as one of the most sought after assassins within the realm. 

“Go now, be swift.” She ordered, dismissing her trump card’s wrath 

      --->upon  humanity’s  strongest  soldier.

Sabito gave her a  bow of respect, silently indicating he understood before pivoting lightly upon his feet. He then swiveled the hulk of his muscular frame around and exited the room without a sound. 

However certain events came into play. 

彡

The wall of  Maria  had fallen.

   The  Colossal  Titan  Came.

       The  Armored  Titan  Came. 

The world as they knew it suddenly changed. Seemingly on the inspired whim of the duo of mutated titans. What triggered it? No one knows, all humanity was certain of was the cost that had come with such a travesty and it seemed to trigger a spiral of despair within the mortals left alive. 

Within the shroud of chaos, the assassin worked. Stalking his prey, day to day. 

Sabito knew that the military would be in a state of unease. Numbers significantly decreased and soldiers losing their minds daily due to PTSD and or simply deserting their posts entirely. He could weave through the rabbles of soldiers, MP’s and civilian's when he wanted to and disappear into the night when he needed to, after all he was a ghost of a man.  

It did not take long to find this Levi Ackerman either. 

Sabito was a clever enough spirit to know what the power of coin, placed in a shaky hand could do in times like these. Furthermore, there was always the fallback plan; the invariable importance of what a whole loaf of bread or a couple pounds of meat could garner. Usually, oodles of information if one was crafty and had their wits about them. 

And then one day, all of his efforts came into a culmination and he zeroed in upon his target. 

A regiment of Survey Corps sat outside of living quarters, eating their morning meal. From this view, it looked to be some sort of gruel or porridge, while others sipped upon cups of steamy tea. Sabito’s lavender gaze flickered from one man to another, attempting to use the powers of observation to suss out who Levi Akerman was. Rumor has it, he was quite the skilled soldier, an up and coming possibility -that many wished to snuff out. Leaning against the trunk of a large tree, he peered down and began to pick apart the crew. Methodically, one by one.

Too loud. Too fat. Too soft. 

Too drunk.  Too short.  Too flashy. 

Too quiet.  Too pretty. Too tall.

Wait a tic-    his gaze settles back to a pale man with hair the color of tourmaline. The short bloke. Sabito narrows his eyes and squats down, steady upon his concealed perch. The intriguing one had been dining with the others, he rose from the spot where he sat and began to walk away, two others immediately joining him on either side of his flanks. But it was of no consequence, what seized the assassins attention was his this strangers gait. It was efficient, fluid. An easy, instinctual movement that suggested he moved with uncanny silence and was aware of how important precision could be.  

“Ahh ha.” Slipped from the Assassins' lips in a low whisper, no one would hear save for the birds lingering within the branches of his overgrown tree. 

“I have found you.” 

[thechopal]

अवैध संबंधों के चलते प्रेमी के साथ मिलकर पत्नी ने पति की हत्या कर शव को गड्ढे में दबाया,

अवैध संबंधों के चलते प्रेमी के साथ मिलकर पत्नी ने पति की हत्या कर शव को गड्ढे में दबाया,

राज्य मध्य प्रदेश के जिले सिवनी से एक मामला सामने आया है, जिले के पांडिया छपारा के पास एक महिला ने प्रेमी के साथ मिलकर अपने पति को मौत के घाट उतार दिया हैं. उसकी ये काली करतूत किसी को पता ना चले, इसके लिए उसने पति के शव को एक नाले के पास गड्ढे में दबा दिया. पुलिस ने आरोपी महिला और उसके प्रेमी समेत एक अन्य आरोपी को गिरफ्तार कर लिया है. पुलिस के अनुसार उन्हें 19 मार्च को पिपरिया निवासी शिवप्रसाद के…

[cristinagooge]

The race to be the leader of the Conservative Party

During the 2015 federal election campaign, then Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the argument that there was no greater friend to Israel than his Conservative government. It was a position sharply contested by the Justin Trudeau-led Liberals, who countered by arguing that there was no daylight between the Liberals and Conservatives when it comes to supporting the State of Israel.

In the end, the Trudeau Liberals won the election and formed the government. Harper resigned and the Conservative Party leadership was assumed by Andrew Scheer. But after a failed attempt to unseat Trudeau in the 2019 election, a campaign that many thought was his to lose, Scheer offered his resignation and now a number of candidates are vying for leadership of the Conservative Party.

The CJN contacted three of the leading candidates for the Tories’ top job to solicit their views on issues of concern to our readers. They are early favourite Peter MacKay, MP for Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough, who’s held several senior posts in Harper’s cabinet: defence minister, foreign affairs minister and minister of justice and attorney general; Erin O’Toole, MP for Durham, former minister of veterans affairs and currently the Official Opposition critic for foreign affairs; and Marilyn Gladu, MP for Sarnia-Lambton and Official Opposition critic for health and chair of the Standing Committee on Status of Women. Earlier, Gladu served as the Official Opposition critic for science.

In a telephone interview with Gladu and in email correspondence with MacKay and O’Toole, all three expressed steadfast support for Israel.

As O’Toole said, “Under Stephen Harper, Canada stood out as a resolute friend of Israel. Sadly, under Justin Trudeau this strong support has weakened. We need a principled Conservative leader who will make Canada a true friend of Israel once again.”

MacKay said that, “As the co-founder of the Conservative Party of Canada with Stephen Harper, I am proud of the strong relationship we built with Jewish communities across Canada and abroad. I am also proud of the unyielding support our Conservative government showed Israel directly at the UN, and internationally, and the deep friendship that we share with Israel. I will build on Stephen Harper’s legacy and continue to support Israel in Canada, at the United Nations and around the world.”

Gladu, referencing a passage in the Bible, said that those who bless Israel are blessed, while those who curse Israel are cursed.

“We should stand with Israel to pursue a peaceful two-state solution,” she said.

On the question of Jerusalem and Canada’s embassy in Israel, MacKay, Gladu and O’Toole signalled a shift from traditional Canadian policy, going further even than the Harper administration. All three said they would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the Canadian embassy there, steps already taken by the Trump Administration south of the border.

MacKay underscored this point by saying, “Jerusalem is the undisputed capital of the State of Israel and that is where Canada’s embassy should be and under my leadership, will be located. Canada’s Jewish community knows that the Conservative Party stands shoulder to shoulder with them. When I was defence minister, I made it clear that a threat to Israel is a threat to Canada and I will always stand with one of Canada’s closest allies.”

O’toole said, “I have been absolutely clear about this and my views have not changed. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The strong presence of the Jewish people there is thousands of years old. The modern presence is even stronger – the Knesset, Supreme Court, the Foreign Ministry and most other government ministries are in West Jerusalem. I believe that we need more of a presence on the ground in Jerusalem. It’s crazy that our ambassador has to drive from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to meet with government officials just to preserve a diplomatic fiction. It’s time to recognize reality and move our Embassy.”

Gladu said, “Jerusalem is the capital and we should move our embassy there.” She added that such a move would not be an impediment to peace.

On the question of Canada’s continued funding of UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works Agency, whose mandate is to help Palestinian refugees, but which has been accused of siding with Hamas, employing anti-Israel school curricula and even allowing weapons to be stored in their facilities, Gladu said, “I would definitely defund UNRWA. It funds terrorism and anti-Semitic education. This is not an organization that represents Canadian values and I would defund it.”

She also said that there is no transparency as to how funds sent from Canada are being spent, suggesting they could be going to support Hamas and promote anti-Semitic education.

MacKay, referencing the Harper government, said, “The United Nations and their various programs have a questionable history of anti-Israel positions and policies. When I was in government, we removed funding for UNRWA due to its ties to Hamas, which the Liberals then restored in 2016. If the UN does not work towards treating Israel fairly in the short term, Canada will stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel and reconsider funding and support of causes like UNRWA.”

O’Toole shared similar sentiments saying, “I will end funding for UNRWA unless it is significantly reformed. It cannot under any circumstances provide support to terror organizations or their affiliates. It also cannot create dependencies, which serve as a deterrent to lasting peace and deter resettlement efforts in other parts of the World. Canada will not continue funding if these reforms are not underway by the midway point of our first term.”

As to sanctioning Iran, which has called for the destruction of Israel, O’Toole said, “We need to hold the Iranian regime accountable to its human rights obligations by levying Magnitsky sanctions (restrictive measures against foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of human rights), confront its policy of state-sponsored terror by listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity and work with allies to counter its instability abroad, and work with international partners to end its nuclear weapons program. We must show leadership to ensure that the Iranian regime does not succeed with its deception of the West.”

Gladu likewise favoured sanctions on Iran, saying the country is known to fund terrorism and “they are clear they want to annihilate Israel.”

She also referenced Iran’s Jan. 8 shooting down of a civilian passenger plane, soon after taking off from Tehran, “full of Canadians, which demonstrates it hasn’t changed.”

MacKay agreed that Canada should employ the Magnitsky Act “against human rights abusers and corrupt officials from the Iranian regime. We should also identify and investigate individuals and organizations lobbying, even unofficially, for the Iranian regime in Canada … We should also immediately list all branches of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) as a terrorist organization.

Turning to anti-Semitism in Canada, MacKay said, “Hate crimes and attacks against any community or Canadian is abhorrent and shocking for a peaceful country like Canada, yet the reality is that Jewish Canadians are increasingly threatened and targeted. The fact that schools and places of worship require security is fa blight on our society. The federal government must do whatever it takes to stop hate crimes. As minister of justice, I brought in stiffer penalties for dangerous offenders. Dealing with hate crimes is a priority that I plan on addressing as prime minister.”

“The federal government has a responsibility to show leadership to fight hate crimes,” O’Toole said, “We need a prime minister who will stand strong against anti-Semitism in Canada including on university campuses and vocally oppose efforts to isolate Israel, particularly as calls to isolate Israel are often thinly-veiled anti-Semitism.”

Gladu said that education and tolerance for religious freedoms must be reinforced in Canada.

She said Canadian legislation is too vague when it comes to defining anti-Semitic behaviour and she would consider amending Canadian law to include the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition.

In addition, for immigrants from countries with high levels of anti-Semitism, “it must be clear that this is illegal in Canada.”

She noted that recent refugee arrivals to Canada came from countries where “anti-Semitism has prevailed” or where beating wives and girls was “common.”

Anti-Semitism is totally not in alignment with Canadian values. We need to take action to keep our Jewish community safe and stand with our ally, Israel,” Gladu said.

Gladu said she would favour increased funding to vulnerable communities for security purposes.

“People are afraid and there needs to be funding for churches, temples, mosques and schools,” she said.

O’Toole agreed that the federal security assistance program for at risk communities be expanded.

“The government needs to do its part supporting at risk communities. I support expanding the program to help support the costs of hiring security staff,” he said.

MacKay said, “We need to work with all levels of government and law enforcement agencies to ensure communities that are at risk are supported and safe. Nobody should have to live in fear when they go to a religious service, open their business or attend events in their community and we should look at strengthening any program to achieve that, which might include support for additional security provisions, security cameras and other safety measures as compensation for at risk communities.”

MacKay went on to say he is “proud of the unyielding support our Conservative government showed Israel directly at the UN, and internationally, and the deep friendship that we share with Israel. I will build on Stephen Harper’s legacy and continue to support Israel in Canada, at the United Nations, and around the world.”

“I believe that Canada should strengthen ties to Israel,” O’Toole said. “One small but meaningful measure that I would take is to develop an exchange program between the Canadian Armed Forces and Israel Defense Forces to allow for a deeper relationship between our militaries.”

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[kerahlekung]

Saya cuma Cina Islam bukan Cina DAP...

Saya cuma Cina Islam bukan Cina DAP....

Pendakwah bebas, Ebit Lew (gambar atas) membuat pengumuman mengejutkan beliau akan berhenti menyalurkan bantuan kepada pihak yang terkesan susulan pandemik Covid-19. Beliau berkata demikian setelah mendapat nasihat daripada pihak berkuasa kerana terdapat aduan terhadapnya susulan kegiatan yang dijalankan. “Saya minta maaf pada semua ya, atas nasihat setakat ini sahajalah saya berkhidmat pada semua secara langsung.

  “Saya cuma akan beri bantuan duit pada orang susah. Saya teruskan dari rumah sahaja. Jangan tag saya lagi kes orang susah. Nanti habis PKP (perintah kawalan pergerakan) baru saya cuba bantu,” katanya dalam satu hantaran di akaun Facebook hari ini.

Ebit bukanlah asing dengan kerja-kerja amal dan kebajikan, selain giat mengadakan seminar di merata tempat selama ini.

Pada tempoh PKP kini, beliau terlibat secara aktif menghulurkan bantuan kepada pihak termasuk petugas barisan hadapan serta orang ramai.

Ustaz Cina bagi derma..Ustaz Melayu minta derma...- f/bk

Beberapa hari lalu Ebit dibayangi kontroversi selepas melawat sebuah keluarga daif di Derga, Kedah. 

Antara lain penduduk setempat menjadi kecaman orang luar yang menyangka mereka tidak mengendahkan keluarga terbabit.

Beberapa pihak - termasuk kerajaan Kedah dan Lembaga Zakat Kedah - kemudian tampil menjelaskan keluarga berkenaan memang menjadi penerima bantuan tetap.

Menurut exco negeri, keluarga berkenaan juga sudah diminta supaya berpindah ke rumah baru yang disediakan namun gagal. Bagaimanapun, selepas dipujuk Ebit keluarga berkenaan akhirnya berpindah ke kediaman baru selepas menetap di situ lebih 15 tahun. Baca seterusnya...

Tak sampai 2 bulan, kerajaan PN 

dah jual aset negara...

“Eh tak sampai 2 bulan, kerajaan dah mula jual aset negara?” Itulah komen yang dibuat terhadap tindakan kerajaan melalui Khazanah yang dilaporkan akan menjual 74 juta sahamnya dalam Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). Menurut laporan media, Khazanah yang dipengerusikan oleh Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin menjual 1.45% sahamnya dalam TNB dengan harga RM1.17 bilion. “Rupanya ini trend standard BN. Tahun 2015 dan tahun 2016 pun sama. “Bolehlah penyokong MN (Muafakat Nasional) teruskan meratib ‘jual aset negara, ini semua salah DAP,” tulis Liyana Marzuki, bekas pegawai kanan Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI) melalui Facebook beliau. Tulisan ini dipercayai mempersendakan tindakan penyokong Umno dan Pas sebelum ini yang sentiasa mendakwa kerajaan Pakatan Harapan (PH) sentiasa menjual harta negara. Menurut media, langkah penjualan saham TNB ini akan mengurangkan pegangan Khazanah dalam TNB sebanyak 1.3%. Harga yang diminta untuk penjualan ini adalah antara RM11.83 dan RM12.30 setiap satu. Harga saham TNB dalam niagaan terakhir semalam adalah RM12.30 setiap satu. April tahun lepas, Khazanah mempunyai 85 juta saham dalam TNB. - MD

Dilemma in Bersatu over Dr M's 'rebellion'...

History will be made on May 18 as Parliament is set to convene for only a day with one party being represented on both sides of the floor. Bersatu, which is leading the broad Perikatan Nasional coalition, will have members led by its president Muhyiddin Yassin on the government bench while a smaller group led by its chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad will sit with the opposition. This will likely be a perplexing and unprecedented scenario, one which many Bersatu leaders, save for Mahathir, are unwilling to go on record for when contacted by Malaysiakini. Some claimed that there was a gag order. On April 20, Mahathir made it clear that he will not join the government bench and that Bersatu - which means "to unite" or "to be one" - was essentially split in two. "So, the faction against the government cannot sit together with the faction with the government," he said. Parliament has yet to update its website with the seating arrangement. Based on the experience of Perak in 2009 - the only other incident of a change in government mid-term - the new seating arrangement will only be revealed on the day of the sitting. According to a party insider, who spoke to Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity, the party leadership cannot punish Mahathir for sitting on the opposition bench. He said the party rules stipulate that a member can only be dismissed if the person joins another party, contests in an election for public office against a Bersatu candidate, sues the party or loses Malaysian citizenship. "What is the offence (if Mahathir sits with the opposition)? There is no offence," said the source. Several party leaders were in agreement that any attempt to sanction Mahathir or other party MPs siding with the opposition would be difficult and a drawn-out process. A complaint would have to be lodged with the disciplinary committee in which an investigation would follow. The member being investigated will also have to present himself before the committee for a hearing.

Another party leader expressed doubt that Muhyiddin (above) would have the gumption to take action against Mahathir - the founding member of the party. "Do they dare to take action against party member number one? The party is already unstable as it is," said the source. Prior to the movement control order (MCO), Mahathir and his allies had been conducting roadshows to rally party members against Muhyiddin for pulling off the "Sheraton Move" in late February and installing himself as prime minister. Although the bulk of Bersatu MPs backed Muhyiddin, it has caused deep divisions within the party. Will there be negotiations? Several party leaders told Malaysiakini that the Muhyiddin faction might find ways to avoid the potential embarrassment by hiding the split. For instance, Bersatu supreme council member and long-time Mahathir loyalist Abu Bakar Yahya said the seating arrangement is controlled by PAS' Takiyuddin Hassan, who is the law minister and therefore also in charge of Parliamentary affairs. "If we really know Tun (Mahathir), he is not the type who would break the rules. "We would only know for sure when the letter informing of the seating arrangement comes," said Abu Bakar, who is also Mahathir's political secretary. At the time of writing, Malaysiakini's attempts to establish if there were any efforts by Muhyiddin's faction to extend the olive branch to Mahathir has been unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Bersatu strategist Rais Hussin believed that Mahathir had every right as an MP not to sit on the government bench. "It is unprecedented but we are living in unprecedented times," he said. Rais added that Bersatu also needs to look at the matter carefully so as not to worsen the rift between its two top leaders and break the party further apart. "My hope is that there would be some form of reconciliation between the two top leaders in the greater interests of the nation given that we are facing a very portent pandemic." Asked if there were efforts to mend ties between Muhyiddin and Mahathir, Rais said it was a work in progress. "Muhyiddin extended the olive branch from his inaugural speech as prime minister. "They are both seasoned leaders in their own right," he said. - Hariz Mohd/Haspaizi Zain.mk

Now, what are we going to see 

of Muhyiddin's legacy?...

How will we remember Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin? Some think that he has brought Malaysia to its knees, when we moved from an era of hope, in 2018, to despair in 2020. Others claim that Muhyiddin's behaviour makes the crimes of two former prime ministers - Dr Mahathir Mohamad and disgraced Najib Abdul Razak - look like child's play. Mahathir, the Father of Modernisation, appeared eager to get back into the driving seat, and then could not wait, to leave. His legacy is defined by the seeds of racism, religious domination and cronyism, which he sowed in the 80s, during his first tenure as prime minister. Invited to form the new Pakatan Harapan government in May 2018, Mahathir started with gusto. However, after four months, his mask slipped. He could still have got himself back on track to rebuild Malaysia, but he dashed the hopes of the rakyat with his hasty resignation. A person can be tricked once, perhaps twice, but not three times. Despite what Mahathir thinks, the rakyat do not easily forget. Najib refused to leave and had to be kicked out of office. Incredibly, he is still trying to stage a comeback, albeit to save himself from prosecution. If only the former judicial system under Harapan had not dragged its feet and played along with Najib's excuses to delay the trial. The damage to young Malaysians will be felt for generations. Many feel that the road to immense wealth is to become a politician, as no skill, qualification or education is required. One only needs to be a smooth-talking Lothario. Najib created many meaningless slogans, milked the system dry and was lucky to have a good teacher in his former mentor, Mahathir (above). So, what of Muhyiddin? Ironically, Mahathir's Wawasan 2020 has morphed into Muhyiddin's Nightmare 2020, In two months, Muhyiddin managed to undo the first steps that Harapan had taken to try to heal the nation and rebuild Malaysia. Muhyiddin will continue the Umno-Baru tradition, under which cronies and family members are able to build personal fortunes and property empires with ease, while the rakyat are told to tighten their belts. He appears to suffer from middle child syndrome. Most first-borns are showered with attention, the youngest is spoilt silly, while the middle child is often neglected. Having served under Mahathir, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and later Najib, Muhyiddin was often overlooked in the prime ministerial succession list, and this must have had a part in explaining Muhyiddin's subsequent bitterness. Is it any wonder that Muhyiddin grabbed the chance to become prime minister, to prove that he is "somebody"?

Muhyiddin's tenure as education minister If one wants to mess up a country, one need only tinker with the children's education. Muhyiddin's tenure as education minister was a disaster. He declared that the Malaysian education system was among the best in the world, despite many Sarawak schools being in a terrible condition, the prevarication over the use of English and his refusal to listen to parents' groups. His close ties with PAS may have affected Muhyiddin's opinion of women. Perhaps, he is a closet misogynist. In yet another swipe at the previous administration, it is rumoured that another woman chairperson of a leading government organisation will, on May 1, be replaced with an Umno-Baru politician. The coronavirus lockdown will come to an end, one day, and the nation will emerge from hibernation. But what stimulus package will Muhyiddin and his finance minister offer to the stakeholders who are the backbone of the economy - the small- and medium-sized enterprises? Without a plan, more people will die from starvation, from poverty and from mental health issues. The damage from the coronavirus pandemic will pale in comparison. With oil revenue reduced, and beer industries being forced to shut, how will Muhyiddin reward the people whose loyalty he must return? He could get rid of Jakim, at the very least trim its budget. He could reduce the size of the civil service because they must be costing us billions of ringgits. He could get rid of his foreign minister, instead of creating Special Envoys to do the work of the foreign minister. He could trim the cabinet, instead of having 70 ministers and deputies who do little work. He could reward his loyal followers with a Datukship. It's cheaper and does less damage than wrecking an already poorly managed government-linked company by appointing a politician to head it. The problem with Muhyiddin is his pre-occupation with Malay pride. Like the true politician, he does not arm the Malays with the real tools and the mental capacity to survive and compete with others. Instead, he permits conservative Malays to cultivate the Malay fear of the three Cs: Chinese, Christianity and Communism. For a lasting legacy, Muhyiddin should have the courage to do things differently. Whip the Malays out of their self-imposed reverie, reassure them that thinking like a Malaysian is best for the country, and that the non-Malays are not their enemy and should have equal status. Malaysians need new blood, not the old, tired faces in the present government. Reversing over 60 years of brainwashing is no mean feat, just as the cleaning-up of more than 40 years of institutionalised corruption cannot be achieved in a few terms. The time to start is now, but will Muhyiddin take up the challenge to redefine his legacy? - Mariam Mokhtar.mk

Indian police drag violators inside ambulance with fake covid19 patient to teach a lesson..

Degil sangat tak nak pakai mask katanya. Sekali kena sumbat dalam ambulan 

yang ada orang yang konon2 dijangkiti covid19, menggelupoq masing2...-f/bk

Bani Melayu dok Malaysia berpuluh2 tahun apa yang depa ada?

Nak tanya Bani Melayu mana lagi bahaya DAP atau Rohingya?...

cheers.

Sumber asal: Saya cuma Cina Islam bukan Cina DAP... Baca selebihnya di Saya cuma Cina Islam bukan Cina DAP...

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 21/1/2020

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Happy Errol Barrow Day! Here is your daily news cap for Tuesday January 21st, 2020. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

YOUNG DEMS GUNNING FOR 2023 – A cadre of young people capable of standing for Parliament under a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) banner is being raised for the next general election due in 2023, DLP president Verla DePeiza has said. But despite declaring her confidence that the future of the party – wiped out in the 2018 polls – is “secure”, the DLP leader is so far mum on the identities of the would-be political contenders. She said: We will allow some level of confidentiality to those persons who have indicated their interest because of the type of work that they are in. “However, I am certain this has not stopped them from stepping forward.” The party’s youth arm, the Young Democrats, is also reporting a significant surge in interest and membership over the last few months, she added. At a meeting at the party’s George Street headquarters, DePeiza said she was “heartened” at the number of young people who have formally indicated their interest to represent the Dems at the next general election. She said: “This party’s future is clearly in good hands and anytime you have young persons who are willing to front for the party, then you know that your future is secure.” In a veiled reference to the governing Barbados Labour Party, the DLP president stressed that unlike “the other party”, the candidate selection process would not be widely publicized, neither would there be “busloads of people” turning up at the meetings. Nevertheless, she said that some of the party’s branches had already started the process and promised that names would be announced in the “next few months”. DePeiza declared: “Our young people are not shirking their responsibility to the party. “Our young democrats recently hosted a panel discussion here and it was a most professional outfit they put on. “It gave me good courage and I was well heartened about how they managed themselves even with a difficult situation on the day. “That gave me all that I needed to know to confirm for me that this party’s future is secure.” In a recent newspaper article, prominent pollster Peter Wickham suggested that last week’s conviction of former DLP commerce minister Donville Inniss was a clear indication that the DLP should let go of its old guard of political leaders. But according to Kemar Stuart, president of the Young Democrats, a shift to a new table of DLP figures could soon become a reality as over the last few months. He declared scores of young people across a number of professions have been expressing interest in joining the party. He told Barbados TODAY that among the newcomers are agriculturalists, banking and finance professionals, economists, cultural practitioners and young attorneys. Stuart said: “The Young Democrats has not been active for close to 600 days before I took up the presidency so we basically started with around 20 persons, but now we are going past 60 persons actively involved. Daily we are adding new persons to the general membership and in the executive as well.” He explained that his vision for the youth arm is to assist in training future leaders and expressed hope that in an election someday soon, at least ten of the 30 candidates on the DLP’s slate would come from the Young Dems. He told Barbados TODAY: “We have persons who are more than capable. “I an in the last election and we have Young Democrats who are qualified up to the doctoral level. “Some people still need training and we are going to work with them to develop them to the next stage but we will work with them one step at a time and we will get there without leaving anybody behind.” (BT)

MP SETS UP YOUTH JOBS SKILL FUND – Declaring his concern over unemployed young people gone astray in his constituency, Christ Church East MP Wilfred Abrahams has launched an “empowerment” drive to help those “who can still be saved”. He set up a special fund to assist youth interested in acquiring new skills and qualifications, the energy and water resources Minister told a branch meeting at the St. Christopher Primary School Sunday evening. The MP revealed that so far, over $10,000 in pledges had already been made and he was hoping to attract more as the need arise, adding that he was placing most of his energy for 2020 toward empowering people. Abrahams said: “If you have zero in the certificate and qualification column, come. I will help you. “We are going to check these courses and you have to be doing something that gives you or yields some certification that actually advances you somewhere. “If it is cosmetology, it has to be somebody who is registered that you can put it up and start your business. “I am happy to pay for anybody who does not have a CXC to do mathematics or English at the O level institute or at Foundation School or wherever.” As rising violent crime continues to stretch into a new year, Abrahams said he was tired of going to the funerals of young people in his constituency but admitted that some youth are simply “beyond salvation”. He said: “There are some people who can be saved and to be honest there are some people who are beyond salvation. “It is probably not the politically correct thing to say, but there are some people who we can’t reach and the law will have to deal with them.” But he declared: “But for all of the rest, for those who we see starting to deviate, for those people we see starting to hang with bad company, for those people who we are starting to see get hopeless because things are not working out for them, it is our duty to step in and help those people.” During a recent constituency clinic, Abrahams said, many people in Christ Church East districts lacked many basic tools to be gainfully employed. He told constituents: “There is a disconnect between those who know in Barbados and those who don’t know and sometimes people are in the position they are in, not because they don’t have the skill to take themselves further but because they don’t actually know some of the things that we know.” Stressing the venture was not political, Abrahams urged constituency leaders to identify the most vulnerable in the constituency and help them. He also appealed to those who were empowered by his constituency office and those who have “good” jobs to contribute to the fund and lend their expertise. Abrahams promised: “At our next branch meeting, we will have somebody explaining some of the big mistakes you make when going for a job interview. We will explain how to present yourselves during a job interview, what your CV should look like, and the dangers of social media.” The MP also had a stern warning for people who are interested in wasting his time as he insisted he was only interested in addressing the needs of those truly in need of help. He said: “There are some deadbeat people out there who are intent on wasting your time and you have to call it as you see it. “This year is the year of empowerment and I am trying to help everybody who is trying to help themselves. “If you are not trying to help yourselves, don’t come and waste my time. “I am probably going to hear all about myself having said that, but sometimes you have to call it as you see it.  (BT)

Cvq TRAINING FOR SECURITY GUARDS – With the push to expand the list of skilled CARICOM people eligible for free movement to include security personnel with Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), the Barbados Workers Union has launched CVQ training for local officers. The launch of the initiative now makes the BWU one of two organizations in Barbados to offer the CVQ in private security service. As the BWU Frank Walcott Labour College enrolled its first cohort of security guards employed by the Royal Westmoreland Homeowners’ Association, General Secretary Toni Moore revealed that after the first batch of officers receive their certification, the programme will be opened to all security firms across the region. Moore said: “Although we are based in Barbados, we will be extending the services regionally and throughout the year we hope to have regional participants. “It is a mobile qualification and it means that you can move throughout the Caribbean. “It is a means of attaining a job in this profession throughout the Caribbean.” Moore contended that the private security personnel were among the vulnerable groups that the BWU was seeking to protect and this certification was one way of protecting this class of workers and increase the value of the profession. She said: “For some time, the Barbados Workers’ Union has been seeking to promote the interest of security officers as one of the vulnerable groups in the labour market. “This category of worker is not regarded as highly as they ought to be for the important work, they do in protecting property and the person. “We have been advocating for safeguarding the interest of security officers, calling attention to the important work that they do and more so calling attention to a need for more rights and for these fights to be protected. “We have to ensure that the officers are equipped with the necessary training to execute their responsibilities.” But Moore pointed out that as the union took steps to upgrade the profession, officers have an obligation to ensure that their attitudes were in sync with the new outlook of the profession. The BWU leader added: “[This] Training course is about knowledge skills and attitudes and I must say that attitude is more important sometimes than skills and knowledge. “Sometimes you have people coming into the workforce with the skills and knowledge but their attitude sucks and that is not going to take you nor the company anywhere.” (BT)

DRAFT SECURITY FIRMS INTO CRIME FIGHT - Amid growing concerns about crime, the head of a security company has suggested that private security officers be brought as a “force multiplier” in the country’s crime-fighting effort. Head of security of the Royal Westmoreland Homeowners’ Association Neville Springer said he is concerned that the role of private security is fully not recognized in the national law enforcement apparatus. He also called for public attitudes towards security guards to shift towards embracing private security as national crimestoppers. Springer was speaking to reporters at the launch of a regionally-recognised skills certification programme for guards conducted by the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU). Springer, a former Barbados Defence Force (BDF) soldier, said that while security officers can play a vital first-responder role, it is not the practice to administer this level of training to them. He told reporters: “I think those of us who lived in the UK, North America and Canada, would know that security officers are trained and certified first before they are licensed. In those parts certification is a requirement for licensing but unfortunately in Barbados this has not been the case. “I am hoping that this will change because persons have a very dim view of security, while they have a different attitude to police and soldiers, and they see them in a more professional light. “I see the private security sector as a force multiplier for the national security sector. It is impossible for the police force and the BDF to do it alone.” According to Springer, these auxiliary officers would need to be trained in areas such as first aid and evidence preservation if they are to play a meaningful role in curbing crime, which resulted in 49 murders in 2019 and two murders so far in 2020. He told reporters: “There is a process and just like the medical profession where you have the paramedics that do a first response before going up to the secondary care system, the security system performs a similar first response function. “The security officer is a first responder for a number of incidents, be it criminal or safety and security issues. “They must be prepared to do the job properly otherwise when it comes to the judicial system it would be all for naught.” But the private security boss contended that in order for any of this to take place, there must be an overhaul of how society views private security. Springer said: “The public does not recognize the role that private security play in keeping the island safe. “People believe that it takes nothing to be a security officer and everybody believes that they can do the job of a security officer because they only see the security officer standing at a gate or walking around a retail outlet. “Many don’t know the other key functions that security officers are supposed to be trained to perform,” he stressed. (BT)

BLIND EYE TO CRIME WORSENS SITUATION – Community groups, churches and citizens alike were in for a tongue-lashing from Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister Wilfred Abrahams, who Sunday night accused them of turning a blind eye to the country’s crime situation, thus contributing to the problem. The Minister of Energy and Water Resources told his constituents in Christ Church East that in many cases they have been silently consenting to deviant behaviour and had become even more desensitised to the frequency of brazen crimes. He declared: “Our silence has been too long and silence is consent. “By our silence, we are all tacitly consenting to what has been happening in Barbados. “That is not okay, and we have to draw the line. “You see it on the front page of the newspapers and you say ‘oh Lord, another one’ and then we flip the pages of the newspapers and look inside and wipe that out. “There’s a funeral and a lot of people cry and then you hear nothing else at all. “We have become desensitised as a people and as a country and unless we do what we can for every young person that you have a chance to influence, the situation will not change.” While stressing that not every young person could be saved, he urged citizens to return to the days where voices of reason would assist in saving those who were “capable of salvation”. He then appealed to churches, fellow MPs, community groups and national organisations to commit themselves to a greater role. Abrahams said: “For every young person that you have a chance to correct, correct them. “We are seeing the consequences of inaction by a negligent Government before and we are also seeing the consequences of inaction by communities that just don’t care or are afraid to step in where we need to step in.” He then pledged: “I am going to unpick my teeth when I see anybody doing wrong. “If you curse me so be it. If it is somebody that I am young enough to influence, then so be it, but I want my branch to be prepared to come on this journey on this year of empowerment with me and be prepared to do the same things starting with the people closest to you, the people in your families, neighbourhoods and communities.” (BT)

WHY KILL HIM? – For residents of Harmony Hall, St Lawrence Gap and Dover, Christ Church the circumstances surrounding the death of Jason Hobbs are like a mysterious puzzle that no one can put together. According to some at Dover where Hobbs worked as a taxi operator, he was a charming, friendly, and the humble one of the group. “Everyone who knew him loved him,” one woman told Barbados TODAY. Her sentiment was echoed by many others. It is for that reason that when the 35-year-old went missing days ago, many who knew him well were extremely concerned.Even more unsettling was the news that the body of a man found at Elbow Bay, My Lady Hole, Fortescue, St Philip on Friday, was later identified as Hobbs’. “It was horrible out here with everybody hoping and praying that it wasn’t true,” said a shopkeeper in the area. She added: “He went to school with my children at St Lawrence Primary School. He was always a very kind, sweet person. A really, really nice guy and everyone, even the tourists who knew him are saying what a really fun guy he was and it’s just breaking everybody’s heart.” Police have not officially classified the case as a homicide but from the responses of those who spoke with Barbados TODAY, many fear he was killed. However, in the absence of confirmation, residents have been avoiding questions about the chilling circumstances and in all cases have declined to disclose their identities. Nearby, a group of men watching a football game also remained silent. “He was very good to me. That is all can say, nothing more,” said another person. The stall owner explained: “They don’t want to get involved because nobody knows what happened. He’s been missing for days, we heard rumours about where the car was found and all kinds of gruesome details and that is why people don’t want to get involved.” She however opened up about the reality of being a mother in these troubling times. “Strange things are always happening in Barbados these days. The issues relating to violence are now totally out of hand and for us mothers of young men, it’s always on your mind because you’re always wondering if they’re going to come home,” she revealed. “I have a son very close to Jason’s age and I don’t think they have to be bad boys and they don’t have to be involved in anything to be hit. You just don’t know what is happening.” Closer to the beach, a water sports operator described Hobbs as “a good man”. “Water ran from my eyes this morning bigman. He raised with me around Dover and in this community so it hurt me to see this is how things turned out,” he said. Although he was raised at Harmony Hall, Christ Church, Jason, the third of his mother’s seven children had moved out and was living at Apartment #1, 72 Elizabeth Park, Christ Church. When Barbados TODAY visited, the apartment complex was deserted. Meanwhile, at the residence of Jason’s mother, Marselle Hobbs, the atmosphere was sombre and the woman, who days ago was pleading for her son to come home now had very little to say. Her only hope is that authorities can eventually explain how and why she lost her son. (BT)

JAMAICAN DETAINEE TREATED FAIRLY – The Immigration Department maintains that the human rights of Jamaican Kivesi Andrae McPherson were in no way violated during his five days of detention at the Grantley Adams International Airport. In fact in a clear-the-air statement issued through the Barbados Government Information Service this evening, the department insisted that it did “everything in its power” to repatriate McPherson in a timely manner. Any delay, the department added, was not its fault. Additionally, the immigration officials remain adamant that “the officers provided yeoman service by going beyond the call of duty” to ensure that McPherson got the meals he requested. Last Friday, attorney-at-law Asante Brathwaite told Barbados TODAY that McPherson’s family was contemplating bringing a lawsuit against the Government of Barbados for unlawful detention. She explained that her client who was arrested for importing $20,000 worth of cannabis on December 30th had been convicted last Thursday, paid the fine of $8,000, and was released into the custody of the Barbados Immigration Department as is customary. Brathwaite was however puzzled over why her client could not get a flight home and complained that Macpherson reported that he had to purchase three meals daily. But according to the Immigration Department, a request was made on January 10 for McPherson to travel to Kingston, Jamaica. The department explained that Caribbean Airlines requires 48 hours advance notice for deportees to travel on its aircraft. That permission was granted by the airline’s security manager, three days later on January 13. The next day McPherson was checked in and issued with a boarding pass to depart on the 6 a.m. flight. He was escorted to the gate by an immigration official and at that point, “the captain of the aircraft refused to accept Mr. McPherson on board because he was not escorted by an immigration officer to Jamaica,“ the statement said. The Immigration Department said it was not customary for escorts to be provided in these circumstances. “The general manager of the airline was contacted and he subsequently advised that he would have to get additional clearance from the security manager in Trinidad, and the department would be informed when permission was given to travel, the immigration statement explained. “That permission was granted on the evening of January 15, 2020. The following day, Mr. McPherson boarded a Caribbean Airlines flight, which departed for Jamaica via Trinidad at 4:58 a.m.  His attorney was informed of his departure,“ the statement said. The immigration department further pointed out that Brathwaite was never prevented from speaking with or visiting her client. It also maintained that the department provided the Jamaican national with three meals daily with the exception of January 10, 2020 when he “opted” to buy chicken and chips from Chefette Restaurant because he did not like the meal that was offered. “On January 12, 2020, the department purchased his lunch from Island Grill Restaurant at a cost of $33 and supper from Grab & Go Restaurant at a cost of $12 because he did not eat what was being offered by the department. It also noted that McPherson refused breakfast on January 15, because he was upset that he was denied travel.” (BT)

TWO MEN INJURED IN SHOOTING – Two men were injured in a shooting incident at Greenfield, St Michael that occurred at 2:40 p.m. Police identified the victims as Jerome Antonio Stuart, 23, of 8th Avenue, New Orleans and Triston Akeem Alexander of #13 Grooves Cottage, St George.Stuart suffered a graze to his right leg but did not go to the hospital while Jones’ left knee and angle were injured. He went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a private motorcar. Police are asking anyone with information that can assist investigations to contact Central Police Station at 430-7676, Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 or any police station. (BT)

REMANDED ON DRUG CHARGE – A 45-year-old man was sent to Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds for 28 days after he appeared before the law courts for the second time in two weeks for a similar charge. David Sylvester Small, who was recorded as having no fixed place of abode, is accused of having cocaine paraphernalia in his possession today, January 20, 2020. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.  Station Sergeant Crishna Graham objected to bail for the accused on the grounds that he was before the court just recently and had been granted bail. The prosecutor added that there was a need to protect society and the accused. She also pointed to his propensity to reoffend. However, his attorney-at-law Lalu Hannoman in his application for bail told Magistrate Douglas Frederick that everyone was innocent until proven guilty. “It is my instruction that it was a plastic straw that he had with him and no drug was found. Two weeks ago it was the same thing. It was again a plastic straw, which in itself is preposterous. “As an environmentalist I would love if everyone was charged with a plastic straw because they should not exist,” Hannoman submitted in his application saying that his client had a fixed place of adobe as he lived with a female friend. After considering the submissions of both sides the magistrate ruled in favour of the prosecution and remanded Small until February 17 on that grounds that he was before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court only two weeks ago. (BT)

DRUGS AND AMMUNITION SEIZED BY POLICE PATROL – Police seized counterfeit cash, ammunition and cannabis during an operation at 2nd Avenue Weeks Land, Goodland, St Michael, on Sunday. Members of the Tactical Response Unit (TRU) and Suppressing Criminal Activity Targeting Society (SCATS) were on a routine patrol targeting hot spots and areas known for illegal activity. On their approach, some men in the area ran away. During a subsequent search, they discovered: thirty rounds of 7.62 Calibre ammunition; two black 5.56 magazines; a quantity of vegetable matter suspected to be cannabis, a controlled drug; one black T-shirt; one pair of long black jeans which had 14 hundred dollar bill, notes all with the serial number E-34687191, in the front right pocket. one can of gun oil. one black rubber ski mask and one black woolen ski mask/balaclava.(PR/SAT)

COOL GUY DENIED BAIL – He says he is innocent of four drug charges against him but a St Michael man was still unable to persuade a Bridgetown magistrate to grant him bail when he appeared in court today. Sean Leslie Estwick, of Thompson Gap, Spooner’s Hill, St Michael is accused of possession of cannabis as well as possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking of cocaine. The offences are alleged to have occurred on January 19. In objecting to bail for the accused Station Sergeant Crishna Graham submitted that there was a need to protect the accused and society as there had been several complainants from businesses located at Browne’s Beach as it related to Estwick, a frequent visitor to the area. “The court will need to protect him and the community at this time. He is also currently on bail in another jurisdiction for similar matters. He is also a habitual offender,” the prosecutor said in her submissions. In response Estwick told Magistrate Douglas Frederick, “Everybody saying I am a bad person, everybody in the [Browne’s Beach] area. But I am not a bad person, I am a good person,” the 46-year-old carpenter said. “I have a good personality, I am a cool guy. I am a person that believe in the Lord and say my prayers.” Magistrate Frederick who described the submissions as “interesting ones” told the accused that although those are good attributes, he needed to address the issue of bail. Estwick responded: “Give me a chance.” He went on to explain that the pending matter against him was one in which he had been ordered to pay $5,000 but had only been able to honour $4,000 of the amount. However, Magistrate Frederick told him the outstanding fine was not helping his cause and he needed to address the matter as soon as was possible to remove that “obstacle”. The accused will make his next appearance before the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on February 17. (BT)

WAITHE PLACED ON BOND FOR DRUG OFFENCES – Magistrate Douglas Frederick today asked a 39-year-old man if he had ever heard of a dentist after he admitted to using cocaine to treat a cavity. Corey Anthonia Waithe, of Rock Hampton Gap, Jackson, St Michael appeared before the Bridgetown magistrate this afternoon where he pleaded guilty to possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking of 1.63 grammes or $81 worth of cocaine as well as 2.68 grammes or $13.40 grammes of marijuana. “I use it on a tooth that has a hole,” Waithe said. “I use it a couple of nights. The marijuana I boil to help me to sleep at night. I am not a drug addict,” Waithe maintained. Station Sergeant Crishna Graham told the court the illicit substances, which were in the form of vegetable matter and powder, were discovered by police who executed a search warrant at Waithe’s residence on January 19. They were contained in two separate transparent bags in his bedroom. His attorney-at-law Mohia Ma’at urged the court to show leniency on the grounds that Waithe had not been before the court since 2012. The lawyer also submitted that the convicted man had not wasted judicial time and was remorseful. “Foremost in his mind is the disappointment and embarrassment that he has caused to his mother and the rest of the family circle. He is very sorry and remorseful and wishes the court to have a high degree of mercy,” Ma’at told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. However, when asked whether he had a problem with drugs Waithe responded: “No sir”. He was also adamant that he did not need help. “Okay, you can’t say that help was not offered,” the magistrate replied as he warned Waithe that he would find himself before the law courts again if that was the case. The bond was then imposed on the trafficking charge and Waithe was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the other charges. (BT)

OWNERSHIP IMPORTANT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – One of Barbados’ noted economists believes that the island’s development model is in need of an upgrade. In fact, Professor Avinash Persaud is of the view that residents should be taught to develop high-value skills and become owners of enterprises instead of just workers. “Today our development model requires an update. Nothing lasts. We have learned that formal schooling and professional education give us a massive step up, takes us a long way, but does not take us all the way,” said Persaud. “Thriving is no longer about moving on from hard labour. It is about freedom of all our people to pursue the life they wish to lead. What we have learned over these past 30 years is that high-value professional skills are critical, are necessary but are not sufficient. Ownership also matters,” he said. Pointing out that ownership has become even more concentrated around the world, especially in the technology space, Persaud said the challenge now was for Barbadians to become owners and not mere workers. “Imagine too, a robot of the not too distant future that can do everything you can do. If you own that robot, life is sweet. . . The problem arises, when someone else owns your robot, the one that can do everything you can do. Pop goes your income. Technology is not your enemy: ownership is,” he said. He said: “The challenge of the future is not an unlimited supply of unskilled workers, but masses of skilled robots owned by a handful of people.” He put forward the idea recently as he addressed the Errol and Nita Barrow Educational Trust’s Gala Fundraising Dinner at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. The economic advisor said it was critical that people looked beyond developing traditional skills and a profession. “To thrive then, we need our people to have the knowledge that not only generates an income, but owns their working lives in some way; owns their own businesses in others,” he said. “That is why in the third decade of the 21st century, 100 years after his birth [former Prime Minister Errol Barrow], the task we have set ourselves at the Trust, is supporting the development of skills that go beyond the traditional professions and truly empower the kind of knowledge that might help a chef become a restaurant owner, a bartender become a bar owner, a grower become farmer, a nurse become owner of an international company of nurses, an architect, accountant or lawyer become a global practice manager or owner,” he explained. (BT)

NO FIRM CONCENSUS ON RUM GI – There seem to be a disagreement brewing among rum producers in Barbados as to what a proposed geographical indicator (GI) should look like for Barbados-produced rum. Reports are that Mount Gay, Foursquare and St Nicholas Abbey, have backed a proposal by Government, which was prepared by the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC). However, the West Indies Rum Distillery Ltd, makers of the popular Plantation rum brand, believes the GI should include locally-produced rum that was also aged overseas. A GI is a sign that specifies that a product originated from a particular place. The qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product depends on the place of origin of the product. The GI puts no restriction on the type of stills used during the distillation. Both short-term and long-term fermentation techniques are permitted. Molasses, syrup or fresh cane juice can be used in the production. The proposed GI, which recognizes the properties of Barbados’ water, stipulates that rum distillers must use Barbados water to make their rum. Additionally, the rum must be aged in refilled casks or new oak, sourced from a list of recognized wine and spirit denominations. Mount Gay, Foursquare, St Nicholas Abbey and West Indies Rum Distillery Ltd. are the four major rum distilleries on the island, and Barbados TODAY understands that the GI proposal will require the approval from all of them. It is understood that Mount Gay, Foursquare and St Nicholas Abbey have fully backed the move, but West Indies Rum Distillery, while it supports the implementation of a GI, believes there should be some inclusivity. Asked about the GI push by Barbados, Managing Director of West Indies Rum Distillery Ltd Andrew Hassell said: “Traditionally, rums and spirits were aged in the Caribbean and in Europe. “We at West Indies Rum Distillery, are totally for inclusive GI where it respects where all of the rum producers have traditionally done, and we are optimistic that when a Barbados rum GI is done it will be inclusive and to the benefit of not only all of the distilleries, but all Barbadians,” said Hassell. While the West Indies Distillery Ltd ages most of its rum on island, some of its rums undergo multi-aging, where it is first done in Barbados and then finished in France. (BT)

RIGHT MOVE SAYS COMMISSION – Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong is supporting Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s decision not to send Foreign Minister Senator Dr Jerome Walcott to a meeting between Caribbean leaders and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Jamaica on Tuesday. In a statement to the press, Comissiong said Prime Minister Mottley, the Chair of CARICOM, took the correct position in maintaining that if all CARICOM member of states were not invited, Barbados could not in all good conscience, accept an invitation to attend. He said Barbados was not showing any animosity or disrespect to anyone, but simply carrying out a leadership duty in the overall best interest of CARICOM. “Mr Trump pulled this type of stunt last year with his invitation of four specially-selected and invited CARICOM Prime Ministers to Trump’s private property in Florida, much to the chargin and suspicion of several of the other leaders and Governments of CARICOM. A chargin and suspicion that actually manifested in several charged public statements,” he said. Comissiong said no one should expect that Barbados, charged with the responsibility for protecting the interests of the organization, to join Pompeo and six American selected CARICOM countries, in repeating an exercise that has already caused unhealthy distress, divisions, suspicions and tensions in the regional organisation. “And particularly when Mr Pompeo and the US State Department have already made it clear what agenda they will be pursuing in the Caribbean in relation to Luis Almagro/OAS, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, etc,” he said. “One of the fundamental missions of CARICOM is to deal with powerful third world? countries not as individual Small Island States, but as a unified, collective of 15 nations. By doing so, we forge ourselves into a much stronger bargaining unit, and are better able to withstand the pressures that many big nations apply when they are conducting their foreign affairs. So we in CARICOM should always strive for unity and collective action,” he added. Addressing a gala to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the late Prime Minister of Barbados Errol Walton Barrow, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre last Saturday night, Prime Minister Mottley warned of attempts to divide the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping. “We don’t look to pick fights. I don’t look to pick fights, but I am conscious that if this country does not stand for something, then it with fall for anything. As chairman of CARICOM, it is impossible for me to agree that my Foreign Minister should attend a meeting with anyone to which members of CARICOM are not invited. If some are invited and not all, then it is an attempt to divide this region,” Mottley said. (BT)

LIFESTYLE DISEASES TAKE 8 OUT OF 10 LIVES MANY YOUNG – The island’s main general hospital is facing an unprecedented dilemma that could result in stroke victims being turned away. The alarm was raised at the weekend by Associate Consultant in charge of the Resistant Hypertension Clinic at the state-owned Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Dr Kenneth Connell during a policy intervention forum organised by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB), at Accra Beach Hotel Resort in Christ Church. Describing the situation as phenomenal, Dr Connell warned that the never-before-seen rate at which stroke victims were turning up at the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) daily, could soon result in the hospital having nowhere to put them. “We are talking about all these strokes presenting to the Emergency Room (ER) today, in 2020. But on the trajectory, these patients wouldn’t even be making it inside the ER because we would physically have no space to accommodate them,” declared Dr Connell, who is also President of the HSFB. Declaring that NCDs are killing Barbadians early, the senior medical official also disclosed that these illnesses were now responsible for eight out of every ten deaths in a country where 31 per cent of children are considered obese or overweight. To press home his point, the top medical official recalled the days when heart attacks were one or two and weeks apart. These now, he pointed out, had now become commonplace. “The fact that some junior doctors…would never know the day when there were five admissions to internal medicine because there was one heart attack. And if you were a student and you saw a heart attack, it’s a big deal because you are not going to see another one for a couple of weeks. Now, you are…desensitized [at] seeing a heart attack,” said the senior medical professional, who is also Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the UWI, Cave Hill Campus. He added: “I now ask on mornings…how many MIs (myocardial infarction) were admitted. And then my next question is ‘how many survived the A&E experience,’ because some of them will die on presentation.” Dr Connell contended that the statistics on strokes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are available and accessible to the Government and that it was now up to the policy-makers to accept or ignore them. The youthfulness of the majority of stroke victims and other non-communicable disease patients presenting to the ER, is also of particular worry to the medical official. “There are over 21 patients in the emergency room waiting to be placed on a ward, and most of them are under the age of 50. And I must tell you, that of the 16 that are admitted under the University [of the West Indies] Services, some ten of them are strokes; and there are young strokes,” he revealed. “This is something that we are not accustomed to seeing…the fact that there is a backlog of patients in the emergency room has nothing really to do with the health system.  It has to do with what the health system is now receiving. We are just receiving more NCDs. They are at our doorsteps. We can colour it however we want, but this is our reality,” he declared. Dr Connell recalled that his registrar only last week raised concerns about how the hospital would be able to find wards for the ongoing influx of stroke victims and other NCD patients. He said his reply was: “More importantly, how are we going to stop them from coming in. How are we going to stop this process, because it is only going to get worse.” He was quick to point out that these diseases are being driven by obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and mental health issues.

Dr Connell released other data to show that one in every five individuals in Barbados has diabetes and that the annual economic cost has skyrocketed to in excess of $209 million. He also produced figures from the Barbados National Registry for 2016 which reported 15 strokes per week and nine heart attacks per week. The associate consultant singled out the consumption of sugar, sweetened beverages and unhealthy foods as a major worry to health officials. For example, Dr Connell cited a recent Barbados Student Population survey which revealed that 18.5 per cent of students ate fast foods three to four times a week, while 73.3 per cent reported drinking one or more soft drink a day. That data also showed that 15 per cent ate no vegetables or fruit in the past month. “Unhealthy diets, which is the main [driver] for obesity is not legislated against,” the top medical official noted, adding that tobacco use and the harmful use of alcohol are already regulated by law. He said air pollution and physical inactivity were also risk factors with regards to NCDs. (BT)

LTGAY CLASSES FOR SOME AT CHURCH – Class four students of the Lawrence T Gay Memorial School started classes at the neighbouring Grace Hill Moravian Church where they have been relocated as a result of environmental issues plaguing their Spooner’s Hill, St Michael plant. And while Vice President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Richmark Cave told reporters this morning that the students and teachers had settled in well at the temporary location, parents and guardians voiced concerns about the need to find a solution for the air quality issue which started in 2015. Parents told Barbados TODAY that they were relieved that arrangements were made to resume classes for the class four students who were preparing for the 11 Plus Examination in May, however, they wanted to know what solution would be made for the remaining school body. “I happy that they are back at school because the Common Entrance is around the corner. But my major concern right now is I got a seven-year-old at the same Lawrence T Gay that is out of school and my concern is that the ministry gets something sorted because it is difficult for parents to make preparations for them. “It is either me or the mom have to stay home with him. The fortunate thing for me is that I am self-employed. But I know other parents will be facing similar issues,” one concerned father lamented. “I am glad my daughter is back in class preparing for the 11 Plus because that is important. But right now I can’t go to work because I have nobody to keep my little boy who is in Infants B. “I mean this is too long this problem going on at that school now and I am beginning to think the ministry doesn’t care about parents. And then I will hear these people in the news talking about they are concerned about all of these people reporting sick. But in situations like this one, you really can’t leave the child home alone, or take them to work with you, and don’t tell me about grandparents because the grand parents got to go to work too,” another parent said. Meanwhile, Cave said he too was happy to see the class four students back in the teaching/learning environment. He said he had no problem with the students being housed at the church since that was what happened in 2015 when the environmental issues started. “I don’t have a problem with them being housed here because right now there are just three class four’s. Previously when they were relocated in 2015 we had a whole infants department here, which is something like nine to ten classes and we didn’t get any complaints. And with three classes here I don’t see a problem,” Cave added. The BUT official said he was aware about plans to conduct detailed testing on the air quality to be sent overseas. However, Cave said until those results return, he was aware that all stakeholders were hoping that the entire school could get back to a conducive learning environment. Last week, following a flare-up of the environmental issues, students and parents met with ministry officials, including acting Education Officer Joy Adamson to discuss the recurring problem. (BT)

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[watchonlinewds]

U.S. military sex assault cases should be prosecuted outside chain of command: panel

A commission on sexual assault set up by the Pentagon has recommended that the United States military take the decision to prosecute cases of sexual assault out of the military’s chain of command, a U.S. official said on Thursday.

If the initial recommendations made by the independent commission are accepted by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, it would be a major change in the military.

Advocates and lawmakers have for years been calling for the military commanders to be taken out of the decision making process when it comes to prosecuting sexual assault cases, arguing that they are inclined to overlook the issue.

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The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Austin had not made a decision yet and would consult with leaders of the different military branches before making one.

“The secretary has asked the services to provide their candid assessment and feedback of these initial recommendations by the end of May,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

In March, the head of the commission, Lynn Rosenthal, said that all options were on the table when dealing with sexual assault in the military.

Sexual assault and harassment in the U.S. military is largely under-reported and came under renewed scrutiny recently.

Last year, an investigative panel looking into violent crimes and abuse at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas said it found a command structure that was “permissive” of sexual assaults.

The U.S. commission’s recommendation comes as Canada faces its own reckoning over sexual misconduct within its armed forces and how those complaints are handled.

Opposition MPs as well as current and former women military members have called for an outside investigation into the issue.

They have also called for an independent body with civilian oversight of the military to handle and investigate complaints as they’re brought forward, similar to the U.S. commission.

The Liberal government has promised for months it will announce steps on how to address sexual misconduct and reporting within the military, but so far no announcement has been made.

“We have some of the strongest measures in the world in terms of borders. We have seen there are direct flights from many countries of concern but there are also indirect flights as well and making sure we have a system to address all flights is something we did months ago,” Trudeau said.

In a wide ranging interview with Global News focusing on child care and the pandemic, Trudeau would not acknowledge it was a weak quarantine system that allowed the P.1 variant to get into Canada. The variant of concern originating in Brazil has accounted for 2,062 cases in British Columbia.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has previously expressed concern the federal government is not providing enough resources to ensure international travellers remain in isolation for the required 14 days.

“Over the last number of months we have been increasing our resources to increase spot checks and even visits as people are quarantining,” Trudeau said.

Canada is expected to receive 50 million doses of vaccine by the end of June. But Trudeau would not say how many doses the United States would be providing to Canada in an expected delivery.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he’s planning to give surplus COVID-19 vaccines to other countries, including Canada.

Biden said he spoke to Trudeau Wednesday about providing additional vaccine assistance to Canada, but also suggested some of the extra vaccines could go to Central America.

[newsnigeria]

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Russia Shutters Georgian Democracy

Democracy is in danger once again. The treacherous Putin regime is pressuring Georgia with sanctions, prohibiting flights between the countries and putting it under duress. Naturally, the Russian bear showed its totalitarian face by answering with pressure, a democratic protest of civic society.

The pretext for the protests, which have rocked Georgia since June 21st was a visit by a member of the Russian Parliament and president of the assembly of MPs from Orthodox Christian countries – Sergei Gavrilov. As the head of the assembly, he addressed its session in the Georgian Parliament from the speaker’s seat as proposed by the receiving party.

Opposition politicians doused Gavrilov with water before he was escorted out of the building to protest the “occupier” whom, Georgian politicians stated, was acting as if Georgia was a Russian satellite state.

The United National Movement opposition party and its supporters condemned the occupation of the sacral stool by the Russian citizen. Street riots immediately broke out near the Parliament building. Protestors waved flags of Georgia, the European Union, the US and Ukraine, clashed with police, and stormed the Parliament. Obviously, they did not forget to chant anti-Russian slogans and demand that Putin, the Kremlin and “Russian occupiers” get out of their country. A Russian TV crew was also attacked because of its non-democratic coverage.

To provide some context to the “Russian occupiers” narrative, it’s important to know what the Georgians mean by “occupation”. They describe as occupied two de-facto independent states South Ossetia and Abkhazia. These states declared their independence in the early 1990s after a direct aggression from the Nazi regime of Zviad Gamsakhurdia. During the conflict in these republics, Georgian nationalists practiced mass repressions and cleansing of non-Georgian population. Since then, and until 2008, Russia had not recognized them as independent states. The situation changed in 2008 after war crimes were committed by the Georgian military in South Ossetia. Forces of the Saakashvili regime carried out massive artillery strikes on the city of Tskhinvali. Vehicles carrying refugees were shelled by Georgian troops and foreign mercenaries. Russian peacekeepers which had previously been deployed to South Ossetia were attacked. In the ensuing 5-day peace-compelling operation, Russian Armed Forces delivered a devastating blow to the Saakashvili regime by defeating its forces. The Russian Army reached Tbilisi, but did not enter the city. No territory was annexed and Russian troops returned to their permanent deployment sites. As a result of the conflict, Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.

In the following years, both republics repeatedly asked Russia to accept them into the federation. Moscow rejected these requests and worked with Abkhazia and South Ossetia as with allied, but independent states. In this light, the Georgian government uses the term “Russian occupation” to describe the Ossetians and Abkhazians who survived the ethnic cleansing of the 1990s and the war of 2008. However, there is a historical case that may explain Georgia’s attitude.

In 1918-1919, forces of the Georgian nationalists, assisted by foreign instructors, attempted to seize control of the city of Sochi and the nearby coastal strip of the Black Sea. They lost this conflict. Forces of Georgian radicals also carried out multiple war crimes in Abkhazia and Ossetia in the period from 1918 to 1920. If Tbilisi believes that any place where Georgian nationalists were once present is rightfully Georgian territory, that could explain which “Georgian territories” were occupied by Russia.

Despite the mentioned facts, it would be fair to note that most of these destructive events were instigated by a small radical part of the Georgian population, indoctrinated by radicalism and nationalism, and supported by Western funds. Most Georgians are friendly to Russians and the Russia state.

Democratic media outlets and civic society activists from Georgia, Russia and around the world united in their efforts to condemn Russian provocations and to praise the democratic actions of the Georgian population.  Some hotels and restaurants increased prices for ethnic Russians. Russia is the number one source of travelers visiting Georgia. Cinemas banned movies in Russian.

A host on pro-opposition TV channel Rustavi-2 came on air and continued to insult Russian President Vladimir Putin in an expletive-ridden statement.

On the evening of July 7th, George Gabunia began the program with obscene swearing at Putin. Gabunia addressed the Russian President in Russian and called him “the grubby occupant,” and also said that Putin and “his slaves” have no place on Georgia’s “beautiful land.”

A Georgian branch of the Soros Foundation “Open Society” accused official Tbilisi of “violating the law” because the authorities invited “Russian deputies who do not recognize the territorial integrity of Georgia” to the country. The NGO called for a response to the “anti-state actions” of the Russian Federation.

In 2019 alone, the Soros Foundation sent millions of dollars to projects in Georgia, including programs to combat “Russian disinformation” and the formation of a “right” perception of the Soviet past among the country’s residents.

Former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, who had his citizenship revoked, after he was convicted of abuse of office has openly supported the protests, saying that the government would fall against the pressure. He, too, blamed Russia and, more than likely, hopes to be allowed back in the country again, since he handled the situation in 2008 so well.

Initially, Georgian Prime Minister, Mamuka Bakhtadze called the United National Movement, founded in 2001 by Mikhail Saakashvili, and its backers “destructive political forces”, and said that they attempted to use the protest to seize power. But later, both the government and opposition decided that it’s better to blame Moscow for organizing the protests against itself because, you know, the only side interested in instigating anti-Russian protests in Tbilisi is Russia itself.

This brilliant explanation of the erupted political crisis did not stop conspiracy theorists from claiming that the June 21 event was a pre-planned provocation in interests of some Georgian elites affiliated with the Washington establishment. The groundless theory is that the goal of the provocation was to exploit anti-Russian hysteria in the internal political struggle. In the long-term perspective, this would strengthen the influence of the Washington establishment in the country.

The democratic action of the Georgian people finds no understanding within the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree prohibiting all flights from and to Georgia and urged tour operators to not organize visits to the country. Moscow enacted travel restrictions due to the potential of danger to Russian tourists.

Additionally, Russia reduced the amount of wine imports from the country saying it would increase investment and shift focus towards domestically produced wines. Although Georgia was not mentioned, Russia is the biggest purchaser of Tbilisi wine.

Lawmakers in Russia’s parliament unanimously backed a resolution on July 9th calling for sanctions to be imposed on Georgia.  The “evil mastermind” President Vladimir Putin, however, rejected the call saying that repairing strained relations with Russia’s neighbor was more important than reacting to the provocations of some scum. Putin  brazenly claimed he was against imposing sanctions on Georgia, “out of respect for the Georgian people.”

But, Georgia is already suffering from the travel ban. According to the head of the Georgian Hotel and Restaurant Federation 80% of the hotel bookings made by Russians had been cancelled. The potential loss to the country’s economy from reduced Russian tourism stands at about $710 million.

Declining export and tourism revenues will also cause Georgia’s current account deficit, which is already large at about 8% of GDP, to widen further.

The June 21 situation and the crisis could be explained in a wide range of ways.

If one takes into account the facts and their consequences, he could conclude that they played into Russia’s hands. The Georgian nationalists and radicals demonstrated that their position is weak and that they lack intellectual assets, international diplomatic and even media support. The Kremlin can state, with reason, that there is a Nazi threat in the Caucasus and react in its own way to contain this threat. The anti-Russian hysteria and threats against Russian citizens in Georgia allow Moscow to justify protectionist economic policies.

Another explanation is that these developments are part of the wider campaign to create tensions and destabilize the situation along Russia’s borders. By instigating tensions in the Caucasus, Russia’s geopolitical rivals are creating a basis for a possible military aggression against Russia and its allies on several fronts simultaneously. This aggression could be carried out by nationalist regimes which receive financial, technical and limited military support from the West. This is the worst case scenario for the entire region.

Most likely, the June 20 crisis was a pre-planned provocation by the Saakashvili faction and Ukrainian nationalists with the intended purpose of being used in the internal political struggle. In this event, they achieved their goal, the mobilization of nationalist and extremist elements of society. As to the situation on the international scene, a kind of detente in Russian-Georgian relations may start in the relatively near future.

The recent crisis demonstrated that, at any moment, even a minor pre-planned effort may be enough to instigate nationalist and radical sentiments of Georgian society. The Caucasus will remain one of the regions of constant geopolitical struggle and inter-ethnic hostility. It is difficult to imagine active development of the Georgian economy and stabilization of its political system under such conditions.

[marymosley]

Why is CJI so conspicuously silent on more High Court Benches?

It is a matter of greatest national shame that Uttar Pradesh which is the biggest state amongst all the states in India with maximum population at more than 22 crore as UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi keep proudly bragging about at public rallies time and again which is more than even that of Pakistan and many other countries, maximum MPs in Lok Sabha at 80, maximum MPs in Rajya Sabha at 31, maximum MLAs in Vidhan Sabha at 404, maximum MLAs in Vidhan Parishad at 100, maximum Judges at lower courts at more than 5000, maximum Judges in High Courts at 160, maximum pending cases in lower courts at more than 50 lakhs, maximum pending cases in high court at more than 10 lakh, maximum members in UP Bar Council which is more than one lakh which is the highest not just in India but in  the whole world as is pointed out in the website of UP Bar Council itself, maximum Mayors, maximum villages which is again more than one lakh, maximum tehsils, maximum Mayors, maximum constituencies at 80, maximum districts at 75, maximum poverty and what not yet has least high court benches in India – only one and that too just about 200 km away from Allahabad at Lucknow! What a shame that Jawaharlal Nehru had the great guts to create a high court bench in Lucknow on July 1, 1948 about 71 years ago which is just 200 km away from Allahabad where main high court is located but no PM had the guts to create a high court bench thousands of kilometers away at any of the 13 districts in hilly areas which now constitute a separate state called Uttarakhand and the people then numbering 88 lakh living there had to travel so far for more than 50 years after independence which led to resentment and agitation of a separate state and now it has a high court nor at any other district in UP!

                                        Why is it that Justice Jaswant Singh Commission headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice Jaswant Singh had in late 1970s recommended 3 high court benches at Agra, Dehradun and Nainital but Centre did not approve even a single bench for UP even though it created bench at Aurangabad in Maharashtra, at Jalpaiguri in West Bengal and Madurai in Tamil Nadu on its recommendations? Why former UN Secretary General Ban ki moon had slammed UP as the “rape and crime capital” of India when he was in office but our law makers never felt it necessary to create even a single more bench for any other district in UP other than Lucknow where it was created way back in 1948? Why peaceful states like Karnataka has 3 high court benches, Assam has 4 high court benches, Maharashtra has 4 high court benches but UP which has maximum pending cases at more than 10 lakh cases in high courts even though other states have just 1 or less than 2 lakh pending cases yet they have so many high court benches but UP has just one?

                               Why is it that West UP which owes for more than 57% of the total pending cases of UP as acknowledged by the Justice Jaswant Singh Commission itself has not even a single bench of high court in any of the 26 districts? Why is it that the situation in West UP is so lawless which can be gauged from this that the newly elected Chairperson of UP Bar Council – Darvesh Singh Yadav was shot dead right inside court premises just three days after being elected just recently on June 12, 2019 yet West UP has not even a single bench of high court? Why is it that the former UP High Court Chief Justice Dilip Babasaheb Bhosale who hails from Maharashtra in a heinous case involving rape of few women on national highway in Bulandshahr in West UP had rightly said as Chief Justice of Allahabad high Court that there is total lawlessness in UP as compared to Maharashtra where women can travel alone in night anywhere without any fear but still see the crowning irony that Maharashtra has 4 high court benches at Panaji, Nagpur, Aurangabad and latest at Kolhapur for just 6 districts but for UP just a single bench since 1948? When peaceful states like Maharashtra can get benches in no time then why Allahabad High Court in UP which has maximum pending cases in India has been denied its due share unfairly for such a long time?    

                                       One cannot but fully agree with Chief Justice of India – Ranjan Gogoi that the number of Judges must be increased and the retirement age of High Court Judges must also be increased from 62 to 65 but what about High Court Benches? Why is CJI so conspicuously silent on such a sensitive issue? Why is it that CJI Ranjan Gogoi fully admired that KL Chitra a woman advocate who filed a PIL pleading for a high court bench in West UP last year was right that there is a valid reason for creating a bench in West UP but declined to entertain it as he said that it is for the Centre to do so knowing fully well that Centre has done nothing in last more than 70 years even after the historic recommendations of Justice Jaswant Singh Commission of creating 3 benches in UP but not a single bench was created in any hook and corner of UP?  

                                        Why is it that CJI ignores that the 230th report of Law Commission of India recommended more high court benches for states? Why CJI ignores that Centre created 2 more high court benches for Karnataka at Dharwad and Gulbarga for just 4 and 8 districts in 2008 first as circuit benches which were made permanent in 2012 apart from the bench at Hubli but for UP not a single bench created till now in 2019  even though Karnataka has less than 2 lakh pending cases and UP has more than 10 lakh pending cases and here too West UP alone has more than 5 lakh pending cases in high court? Why CJI does not writer about this to Centre?

                                          Why the lawyers of more than 20 districts of West UP keep going on strike for last nearly 40 years from May 1981 till now every Saturday protesting the denial of bench but CJI does not deem it fit to mention it to Centre? Why the lawyers of West UP even went on strike for 6 months in 2001 and earlier also similarly and not stopping here even went on strike for 3 months in 2014-15 also and for nearly a month every year but still West UP has no bench? Why is it that litigants of West UP are compelled to travel more than 800 to 900 km away to Allahabad to attend cases as there is no high court bench in West UP yet CJI says nothing on it?           

                               Why is it that West UP always remains in the news for wrong reasons for brutal crimes and still CJI doesn’t write to Centre demanding high court bench for it? Why is it that the population of West UP at more than 9 crore is more than all states except UP of which it is a part, Maharashtra and Bihar and here too areawise West UP at 98,933 square km is bigger than Bihar which has just 94,000 square km but still has not even a bench? Why CJI does not point out that so many UP CM like Sampoornanand had recommended a high court bench for West UP at Meerut in 1955 but till now not a single bench created anywhere in any of the 26 districts of West UP? Why CJI does not point out that even small islands like Andaman and Nicobar islands have high court bench with just 3 lakh population at Port Blair but West UP with more than 9 crore population has none?

                                          Why CJI does not recommend more benches for other lawless states like Bihar which has none even though we daily keep listening news of horrifying crimes in different districts of Bihar? Why other big states like Odisha has no high court bench even though the lawyers of Western districts keep protesting for a bench frequently, why  Rajasthan has just one high court bench at Jaipur alone and not at other places like Udaipur where lawyers keep demanding the same? Why only a few big states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Assam have either 3 or more than 3 benches? Why not others who either have just one or have none? Why can’t this glaring and shameful indiscrepancy be corrected immediately?

                                    What a crying shame that UP CM Yogi Adityanath government has the ability to bear Rs 36,000-crore for construction of 600 km Ganga Expressway for better connectivity of Allahabad with western districts of the state and which will be the longest expressway in the world but it can’t spare just a few crores for creating a high court bench in lawless West UP or at Bundelkhand or at any other deserving place so that people are not compelled to travel so far and waste huge money in doing so for various expenses like staying, travelling, etc! Why can’t Centre take serious steps to address this cancerous problem of law and order in UP root and branch by creating more benches here and just resorting to baby steps and bandaid measures like reducing time limit to reach Dlhi by about an hour or so by spending more than 20 crores on creating 14 lane national highways? Why can’t CJI direct Centre to do so accordingly?    

                               Why is CJI so conspicuously silent on more high court benches not just in UP but in other different states also like Bihar from where the present Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hails? Why only a few states are enjoying the right to speedy justice, justice at doorsteps and cheap justice? Why big states like UP, Bihar and others are being wrongly deprived of the same?

                         Let me again reiterate that there can be no denying or disputing what CJI says regarding increasing the number of Judges in Supreme Court and High Court and age also of High Court Judges but  this alone is not enough to ensure that people get justice easily and cheaply! More high court benches also must be created for big states like UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Odisha and others as was very rightly recommended by the 230th report of Law Commission of India more than 10 years ago but which has been implemented only in Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal! Why UP which has maximum pending cases and other states left out in the cold?

                                      Should the CJI not speak out most vociferously on this also? Who can deny that Allahabad High Court is the biggest high court not just in India but in whole of Asia yet has just one bench which is so close at Lucknow and is also one of the oldest high court which completed its 150 year of creation in 2016? Who can deny that Bar Council of UP has maximum members in whole world yet UP has just one bench and here too West UP which owes for more than half of pending cases has none? Can this be justified on any ground and under any circumstances? Certainly not! Allahabad High Court must get its due share as it has maximum pending cases, maximum Judges and what not! It must have maximum benches in India and not minimum as most unfortunately we have been seeing since last 72 years! It is CJI’s moral and constitutional duty to point out in detail about this to the Centre and if still Centre does not act then the CJI must most promptly order the creation of a high court bench in any of the 26 districts of West UP and also at other suitable places in different deserving states like Bihar, Odisha and Rajasthan! It brooks no more delay anymore now!

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[mikemortgage]

Canada ‘very likely’ will be hit by foreign cyber threats before October election: Federal report

Despite widespread publicity, finger-pointing and the laying of criminal indictments, some countries continue trying to interfere online with democratic processes around the world.

As a result Canada’s electronic spy agency believes it is now “very likely” Canadians voters will encounter some form of foreign cyber interference during the run-up to October’s federal election, most likely through disinformation — commonly called fake news.

That’s the conclusion of the latest report on cyber threats to Canada’s democratic process issued this morning by the Communications Security Establishment (CSE).

That’s a change from its 2017 report, which said it was “highly probable” there would be cyber threats against democratic activity here.

The odds are foreign adversaries will do here what they have tried to do in other countries, says the report: Attempt to sway the ideas and decisions of voters by focusing on polarizing social and political issues, promoting the popularity of one party over another, or trying to shape the public statements and policy choices of a candidate.

The CSE is responsible for protecting federal networks and advising the private sector on protecting critical infrastructure.

At a briefing for reporters this morning Karina Gould, the minister for democratic institutions, warned social media companies the government wants more effort from them to prevent their platforms from being used for disinformation.

“There is an onus on social media and digital platforms to better protect the digital public square by increasing efforts to prevent malicious cyber activity including the spread of disinformation,” she said. We have been meeting with these companies, and although discussions have been progressing slowly and have not yet yielded the results we expected at this stage, we remain steadfast in our commitment to secure change from them.”

Gould dangled the possiblity of regulation, although making it clear that wouldn’t happen before the October vote. But, she added. “what is clear to me and to government is technology is changing very rapidly and the platforms have been able to avoid being held to account for the activities that take place on their platforms for too long. So how do we develop something that will stand the test of time?”

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Interestingly, Gould is the first cabinet minister to note that on May 28 the House of Commons ethics and privacy committee will hold a hearing to which senior officials from seven major social media platforms — including Google, Twitter, Amazon and Facebook — have been invited to not only be questioned by Canadian MPs, but also by parliamentarians from eight other countries.

That, Gould noted will be a “really important moment.”

Attendence by those officials hasn’t been confirmed.

The good news, is the updated CSE report says it is “improbable” any foreign cyber interference will be of the scale of Russian activity against the 2016 United States presidential election. The U.S. has alleged Russia or Russian-backed groups stole email and documents from branches of the Democratic Party and the Hilary Clinton presidential campaign as well as mounted huge disinformation efforts on social media. As a result a number of Russians have been indicted by grand juries for violating U.S. laws.

In addition, the report notes extensive media coverage and analysis of foreign cyber interference “has greatly raised public awareness of the potential threat, as has more frequent reporting and public attribution of major cyber incidents by CSE and allies. Internet companies have indicated a willingness to reduce the illegitimate use of their platforms that could lead to foreign cyber interference.”

Finally, because Canadian elections are largely paper-based the government believes there are “robust protections” against vote tampering.

That means the IT systems of political candidates, parties are the most vulnerable to cyber threats, as well as the opinions of voters through fake news.

One way the government hopes to counter disinformation is through a media literacy campaign expected to start soon.

It has also begun briefing political parties on what to expect and how to better protect their IT and communications systems.

Criminal offence to hack

The government also made two important legal changes with the passing of Bill C-76 that are about to take effect: It will be a criminal offence to hack into a computer during a federal election, and foreign states will be forbidden from buying advertising during a federal election period.

The government has also created a Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force to prevent covert, clandestine, or criminal activities from influencing or interfering with the electoral process. Among its responsibilities is the task force — not politicians — will decide whether to issue public warnings about suspicious activities

While the CSE report focuses on possible foreign disinformation during the election, at a conference earlier this year the editor of The Logic warned that fake news comes from Canadians as well.

“Don’t be fooled into thinking this is only foreign actors,” David Skok told a conference organized by the Canadian Internet Governance Forum. “Your local politicians and campaign staff and crisis communications firms are doing this more than foreign actors are.”

In concluding that Canada will likely see attempts to interfere with democratic processes the CSE report notes that in 2018, half of all advanced democracies holding national elections had their democratic process targeted by cyber threat activity. “This represents about a threefold increase since 2015 and we expect the upward trend to continue in 2019.”

One of the most recent incidents happened in February when the IT systems of Australia’s parliament and three major partiers were compromised.

In addition, the report says, since 2015

€ More than one foreign adversary has manipulated social media using cyber tools to spread false or misleading information relating to Canada on Twitter, likely to polarize Canadians or undermine Canada’s foreign policy goals.

In particular it notes that in 2016, false information appeared on social media about a “failed Canadian raid” on Russian separatist positions in Ukraine, alleging that 11 Canadian military personnel had been killed. Users shared an English language version of this fictional report over 3,000 times on Facebook. A similar false report about three Canadian soldiers dying after their vehicle hit a landmine in Ukraine spread on pro-Russian websites in May, 2018. Canadian troops are currently in Ukraine in non-combat roles; € Foreign state-sponsored media have disparaged Canadian cabinet ministers; and € A foreign adversary has manipulated information on social media to amplify and promote viewpoints highly critical of Government of Canada legislation imposing sanctions and banning travel of foreign officials accused of human rights violations.

Strategic threat

By CSE calculations, the vast majority of cyber threat activity affecting democratic processes around the world since 2010 has been strategic, meaning threat actors specifically targeted a national democratic process for the purpose of affecting the outcome. Most of the remainder of the cyber threat activity was cyber crime, such as stealing voter data in order to sell personal information or use it for criminal purposes.

Cyber attacks are misinformation are attractive weapons for countries for a number of reasons, says the report: The tools are cheap (many can be bought on criminal marketplaces), and attributing and deterring attacks remains difficult.

And while publicity and some criminal charges has shone a light on some nations has raised the costs for some threat actors, the report says “the cost is still not high enough” to make them stop.

While disinformation through social media is a favoured tactic of nation states, the report also warns political parties and their staff can be targets. Attackers will want to steal personal information to embarrass or blackmail a party or candidate, steal party databases or try to infect and destroy IT systems.

Gould urged Canadian voters to be vigilant about what they see on social media. “Take the power back, be critical, look at the sources of information you’re getting and use that to make your decision” when voting.

In a statement Google Canada said it is committed to combating misinformation and working with the Canadian government to fight cyber threats. It noted there have been meetings with Gould and her staff, Elections Canada, the Commissioner of Elections and the Privy Council Office to discuss plans on transparency, cybersecurity and information. In February Google published a white paper on how it is fighting misinformation across Google Search, Google News, YouTube and our advertising platforms. Additionally, in co-ordination with the Canadian Journalism Foundation and Civix, we’re funding NewsWise, a program delivering news literacy curriculum to school-aged Canadians. And it is working with the Cyber Security Centre to prepare for the election, sharing information on how best to secure networks and accounts from malicious attacks. “We have every intention of continuing our close work with government to protect Canada’s democratic institutions and election activities.”

(This story has been updated from the original to include comments from democratic institutions minister Karina Gould and from Google)

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[itsfinancethings]

The investigation into the alleged fraud in the sale of diamonds to investors and investors widens to the banks and also unveils excellent names among the customers affected, such as rockstar Vasco Rossi, the host Federica Panicucci, the former show girl Simona Tagli and the entrepreneur Diana Bracco. The Guardia di Finanza today carried out a preventive seizure of over 700 million euros in the investigation in which Banco Bpm and Banca Aletti, Unicredit, Intesa Sanpaolo and Mps are also investigated.

The investigation

The investigation, coordinated by the deputy prosecutor Riccardo Targetti and by the public prosecutor Grazia Colacicco, concerns events between 2012 and 2016 when, according to the indictment, two companies - the Intermarket Diamond Business spa (Idb) and the Diamond Private Investment spa ( Dpi) - they would sell through the intermediation of bank branches, diamonds at a price much higher than their real value. The seizure decree, signed by the investigating magistrate of Milan Natalia Imariso, was carried out by 7 persons under investigation and 7 entities, ie the 5 banks and the two companies, for the hypothesis of a crime of aggravated fraud and self-laundering. Almost seventy total investigators: among them also the general manager of Banco Bpm Maurizio Faroni, who are challenged in the accusations of competition in fraud, self-laundering and obstacle to the exercise of the supervisory functions.

Maxi seizures: 83.8 million charged to Banco Bpm

Among the worst hit by the seizure, the two sales companies: summing both the claims, 253 million are borne by Dpi and 328 million Idb, against which, however, the Court of Milan declared bankruptcy last January. The precautionary provision also heavily affects the banks: 83.8 million are borne by Banco Bpm and Banca Aletti, 32 million against Unicredit, 11 million against Intesa Sanpaolo and 35.5 million by MPS . From Vasco to Simona Tagli, the VIP customers involved This is an important turning point in a story involving several tens of thousands of savers. In the investigation, investigators rebuilt the positions of around a hundred customers. Among these as also said Vasco Rossi, which according to what emerges from the papers would have invested 2.5 million euros. Simona Tagli would have made an investment of about € 29 thousand and Federica Panicucci from about € 54 thousand.

The fines of the Antitrust

After a number of journalistic investigations, the Antitrust Authority had already started a light on the affair, and at the end of its investigation it imposed a total of 12.35 million euro penalties for the two companies (Idb and Dpi) in October 2017 and of Banco Bpm, Unicredit, Intesa Sanpaolo and Mps. The institutes themselves, to respond to the protests of the savers, for which it was impossible to sell the stones at a price at least equal to the purchase, although they always declared unrelated to the sale, had in any case decided in some cases to provide a reimbursement of how much invested by some savers.

The numbers

According to data from the substantial survey conducted by the Antitrust Authority, from 2011 to 2017 Idb and Dpi, have completed sales of over one billion euros. Of these, more than half, € 600 million are attributable to Banco Bpm alone, which, thanks to its role as intermediary for around 30-40 thousand customers, has collected over 100 million commissions in the period. Same role played by Unicredit, which has registered 40-50 million commissions in six years. The role of the other institutes is more marginal. Intesa Sanpaolo, active since mid-2015, has declared 7,000 customers in 2016, MPS approximately 14 thousand transactions (some attributable to several parties) from 2013 to 2016 and total commissions between 30 and 50 million euro.