The Andhra Pradesh government employees in Telangana region on Thursday undertook a relay hunger strike here in support of the statehood demand.
The fast held at the Indira Park here was attended by members of Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers Association, Telangana Gazetted Officers Association and other employees unions.
Speaking on the occasion, leaders of Telangana staff unions hit out at the state government for invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) for prohibiting strikes in the various finance-related services.
The Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee has already served a notice to the government that it would launch an indefinite general strike from August 17 primarily in support of the demand for creation of a separate state.
It has also submitted a charter of demands that include appointing a judicial commission to look into irregularities in appointments and deputations in violation of zonal regulations.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet sub-committee on employees yesterday decided to invite the Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee (JAC) for talks on August five to resolve their pending grievances and avert a strike.
"On the one hand, the government has invited us for talks tomorrow. On the other hand, the government has invoked ESMA. Telangana people are observing this double standards," K Swamy Goud, a leader of Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers association, said.


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Actress Zooey Deschanel has briefly left behind her male movie costars for a musical one. She's joined musician M. Ward to form She & Him, Jim and Greg's guests this week. Tune in to hear the duo's intimate conversation and live performance.


Spencer Paysinger started at linebacker at Oregon for three years, meaning he had to go up against Chip Kelly’s frenetic, high-octane offense every day in practice.
“Our defense, when I was at Oregon, we were the only team that shut them down,’’ Paysinger said on Giants.com.
Well, the job of shutting down Kelly’s attack will once again fall to Paysinger now that the Eagles waited out Kelly’s “change of heart’’ and this week finally landed him as their new head coach, replacing fired Andy Reid. Kelly’s fast-paced offense wants to run a play every 20 seconds, making it virtually impossible for the opposing defense to keep up.
The entire NFC East is now on notice, as Kelly arrives after having overwhelming success at Oregon. It remains to be seen if Kelly’s approach will work as effectively in the NFL.


PM Abbasi also said that the government of PML-N improved the situation of gas in the country. “The gas connections increased by 50% in last five years. Currently, gas projects worth Rs200 billion are under being constructed.” He remarked that the PML-N does not believe in the politics of hurling abuses at the opponents.


The ringleader of a terrorist group was sentenced to death on Monday by the Intermediate People's Court of Kashgar prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
Abdukerim Mamut was found guilty of running a terrorist organization, leading terrorist attacks and murder, according to Tianshannet, a news website run by the regional government's information office.
Under Chinese law, he has the right to appeal the conviction and sentence.
According to trial information posted on the website, Mamut preached religious extremism to a circle of followers and founded a nine-member terrorist organization with himself as ringleader.
They selected targets and planned attacks, including checking the locations.
On the morning of Feb 28, according to the website, Mamut called the members together at his house, handed out knives and axes and instructed the group in the details of an attack to be carried out that day.
At 6 pm, they went to a crowded pedestrian street - Xingfu Road in Yecheng county near Kashgar in the southern Xinjiang - and attacked people with the knives and axes. Thirteen people died and 16 were injured. Two of those people later died.
Police rushed to the scene and Mamut was captured. They shot seven terrorists dead and one was wounded and later died.
One member from the public order joint defense force was killed and four police officers were injured.
Prosecutors presented evidence proving Mamut's guilt, including his confession, the website said.
The defendant's relatives and some of the victims and their families were among those attending the trial.
Zhang Chunxian, the Party chief of the region, recently said the attack was the result of agitation by overseas separatists, extremists and terrorists.
"The social situation in nearby countries and international anti-terrorism activities may have directly or indirectly prompted such incidents," Zhang said on March 7 on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress.
No mercy will be shown to those guilty of violent terrorist attacks in Xinjiang, Zhang said, and the government will not allow terrorists to wave knives at women, children and innocent people.
Yecheng county, in Kashgar prefecture, is about 1,500 km from the region's capital Urumqi. The county neighbors Kashmir region and is populated mostly by Uygur people.
Two similar terrorist attacks occurred in the prefecture in July, killing 14 people and leaving 42 wounded.


A program to help school administrators and state and local law-enforcement officials better prepare for bomb threats in schools was presented yesterday in the District by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The U.S. Education Department helped develop the program, which features the interactive CD-ROM “Bomb Threat Response: An Interactive Planning Tool For Schools” and includes staff-training presentations and implementation resources. It was showcased yesterday at the Francis Junior High School in Northwest.
The ATF will distribute the CD-ROM to state and local law enforcement agencies and other first responders. The Education Department’s Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools will handle distribution to public school systems throughout the country.
“This CD is a user-friendly tool that will help school administrators and law-enforcement and public-safety officials protect our most valuable resource: our children,” Mr. Buckles said.
ATF spokesman Andrew L. Lluberes said the program delivers content via the CD-ROM, a supporting Web site and quick-reference cards that allow administrators to develop a plan for their schools. He also said it draws on ATF’s knowledge of explosives incidents and the Education Department’s understanding of schools.
Program topics include understanding bomb threats, prevention, planning, bomb-threat response, explosion response, follow-up and training aids.
Mr. Lluberes said bomb threats cost the country’s education system millions of dollars a year in lost classroom time and in salaries for emergency responders.In the six months after the Columbine High School shootings in Colorado, U.S. schools received 5,000 bomb threats, according to the National School Safety Center.
For more information go to the Web site: www.threatplan.org.


Sweden's Helena Jonsson has secured the overall biathlon World Cup 2008/09 title after finishing second in the last race of the season – the 12.5 km Mass Start – in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
ati Wilhelm, who lead the overall standings before the event, came in 6th place. The German missed two targets during the final standing shoot, while Jonsson kept cool and had four clean shoots during the race.
The result allowed the Swede to catch up with Wilhelm in the table. Both athletes had 925 points, but Helena Jonsson claimed the Crystal Globe because she had one victory more to her credit.
"I already said it before the race: Helena will shoot clean today. She was the lucky one today. Both have the same amount of points, that's crazy. This must be the first time, so close together,” Wolfgang Pichler, Jonsson's coach, said to to International Biathlon Union website.
German Simone Hauswald, who finished the season 9th, was the winner of the race, and her compatriot, Andrea Henkel, came in third.
Ole Einar Björndalen was awarded his 7th Crystal Globe, after coming to the finish in third place, in the Khanty-Mansiysk.
The Norwegian legend has earned 1080 points this season, while his closest rival, Tomasz Sikora, had just 870.
"I do not keep these awards out. I pack them away. They are at my father's house. I want to stay hungry," Ole Einar Björndalen said to to International Biathlon Union website.
Austrian Simon Eder captured the 15-kilometer Mass Start competition, after a clean shooting performance, and his countryman Dominik Landertinger came second.


In the wake of last week’s collapse of a planned June 12 summit between President Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un (which now may be back on), commentators rushed to point the finger at National Security Adviser John Bolton. Bolton “seems to have played a key role in the cancellation” wrote New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. “John Bolton must be stoked,” tweeted Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). “John Bolton’s Wrecking Ball Takes Down North Korea Summit” reads the headline of Ankit Panda’s Daily Beast op-ed. F.H. Buckley calls for him to be fired.
In fact, Bolton was barely involved. It was a pair of jaw-dropping televised gaffes by the president and vice-president that sent the Trump-Kim lovefest into a downward spiral.
The saga began on April 29, when Bolton was asked on CBS’s Face the Nation about the administration’s expectation that Kim Jong-Un demonstrate upfront his willingness to give up nuclear weapons. “I think we’re looking at the Libya model of 2003, 2004,” Bolton replied, referring to Libyan dictator Moammar Ghadhafi’s abrupt decision to verifiably abandon all of his weapons of mass destruction and associated infrastructure, which helped rapidly bring him back into the good graces of the West after years of pariahdom stemming from Libya’s orchestration of the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
That Trump, who had been gushing with praise for North Korea since welcoming home three American prisoners a week earlier, suddenly found himself threatening to “decimate” North Korea because of his misunderstanding of Bolton’s “Libya model” was bad enough. No one in the administration corrected the mistake. Indeed, the mistake became the new truth inside the White House.
Hours later, North Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Son Hui denounced the “ignorant and stupid remarks gushing out from the mouth of the U.S. vice-president” and threatened to “put forward a suggestion to our supreme leadership for reconsidering the DPRK-U.S. summit.” This insult led Trump to announce cancellation of the summit on Thursday.
This week, Trump is full of obsequious praise for the North Korean dictator as his administration reportedly scrambles to revive the June 12 summit. In light of the president’s resistance to sitting through detailed briefings on North Korea and the fact that he still “doesn’t think he needs to” prepare for the summit, according to a senior White House official quoted by Time, let’s hope it stays cancelled.
Gary C. Gambill is a Philadelphia-based policy analyst.


November’s blue wave washed away every Republican member of Congress who represented the one-time GOP stronghold of Orange County, leaving Democrats eagerly eyeing other important elected positions in the region.
After Todd Spitzer was elected district attorney, their attention turned to the recent special election to fill his Third District seat on the county Board of Supervisors. But the GOP proved that it still has signs of life.
This week, Irvine Mayor Don Wagner declared victory in the seven-candidate race. He held a more than 3,500-vote lead over former Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, the only Democrat running in a district that represents Yorba Linda, most of Irvine, Tustin and other inland areas.
The district holds a nearly 4 percentage point Republican advantage, but multiple candidates threatened to split the party’s vote.
Wagner, who ran a tried-and-true Republican campaign focused on quality-of-life issues, will serve out the 21-month term and leave Republicans with four of five seats on the board.
Last November, Democrat Doug Chaffee eked out a victory in the Fourth District centered in Anaheim and Fullerton.
Democrats hoped to pick up this Third-District seat this year and then defeat Andrew Do in the First District next year to grab a board majority. But typically low special-election turnout doomed their strategy. We might see a Third-District rematch.
Sanchez, backed by public-sector unions, told the Orange County Register that she’s already mulling 2020.
We wish Wagner the best and encourage him to implement his promise to find a permanent solution to the county’s homeless problems.
He had opposed homeless camps, but wants to work with the board and courts to come up with something more suitable.
We’re also encouraged by his desire to reduce regulations that make it difficult to build badly needed housing in Orange County.
Republicans have shown that they can still win solid victories provided they focus on old-fashioned retail politics.
The big question is whether they can do that in 2020, when President Trump is once again the focus of voters’ attention.


The friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is getting ready for a worldwide web-slinging adventure next year, and now we have our first look at a poster for Marvel Studios' new movie.
Now, if you were expecting something revealing, we're sorry because it looks like this poster was quickly put together for the purposes of this expo using leftover assets from Spider-Man: Homecoming. That pose Spidey is in looks very similar to how he looks in multiple marketing and promotional assets for the previous film.
But still, it does show us that Sony is starting to get serious about their next installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not to mention their upcoming relaunch of Men In Black. That franchise is getting some Marvel star power, with the Thor: Ragnarok duo of Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth.
It's rumored that Spider-Man: Far From Home is set to wrap up principal photography soon, with the final scenes being filmed in New York City over the coming weeks. That could mean Sony will start whipping up some final promo images, especially with the film set to release in the summer of 2019.
The movie will set the stage for the future of the MCU after the events of Avengers 4, which is sure to have major ramifications for the franchise.
"Well, I mean, sure, let the speculation begin. That's always fun," Feige previously said. "We like [the title] of course because it ties into Homecoming, not just keeping that word going, which we like and we liked it more than Homecoming 2, but that notion of 'home' is a word that has dual meanings we'd like to continue with this [Marvel Cinematic Universe] version of Spider-Man. So, Far From Home has multiple meanings.
"Much like Ant-Man, there are things that people know about that movie, which is a great deal of the movie: the villain of the movie, the storyline of the film, that we're shooting in Europe and that Peter Parker goes on continuing that [Captain America: Civil War] was a big giant super hero class movie," he continued. "The fall out of that in Homecoming was John Hughes and him going to his high school. So that's what's fun to us about the Spider-Man movies. And again going from Infinity War to Ant-Man and the Wasp, the tonal shift."


Much of the news in the UK this week has been driven by allegations by a former Czechoslovak spy that the opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was a paid informer for the country's communist era secret police, the StB.
Mr Corbyn emphatically denies the claims. Indeed all the evidence suggests he was never anything more than a person of interest to the StB. But as Rob Cameron reports from Prague, while the Cold War is over, a few sheaves of yellowing paper still have the power to throw lives into turmoil.
As I sat at my computer, poring over secret police files, I felt a sudden tug of nostalgia. The files were digital copies of reports written by StB officer Jan Sarkocy, sent to Britain in 1986 under diplomatic cover. When he met first Jeremy Corbyn, in November of that year, his business card read "Jan Dymic, Third Secretary to the Czechoslovak Embassy in London".
They were fascinating documents, cryptic and - for me - strangely evocative. Especially the references to North London landmarks I knew well, such as Seven Sisters Road, where the Labour MP for Islington had an office.
But my task was not to dredge up my own memories of Labour politics while the party was in opposition in the 1980s. Rather it was to examine the six documents in dossier number 12801/subsection 326, codename "COB", for traces of anything incriminating. And believe me, I couldn't find them.
Nothing in Agent Dymic's descriptions of three meetings with the Labour MP - two in the House of Commons, one on Seven Sisters Road - suggest the StB ever regarded him as anything other than a potential source. A young leftist with good contacts in the peace movement. An internationalist with a Chilean wife who kept dogs and goldfish. The only document he appears to have passed on to Agent Dymic was a photocopy of an article in the Sunday People about a bungled MI5 raid on the East German Embassy. And each meticulous report ended with a little note of expenses incurred; parking, two pounds; underground ticket, one pound. Signed: Jan Dymic.
For clarity I spent a morning with the woman who is now the custodian of millions of documents still marked "TOP SECRET": the Director of the Czech Security Services Archive. For research purposes these dossiers - once jealously guarded by the Communist-era secret police and intelligence services - are now freely available to anyone; all you have to do is ask for them.
The director had also given me Dymic's own personnel file. But his Slovak was littered with arcane abbreviations and jargon, and I was having trouble understanding them. "COB" was Jeremy Corbyn's codename, that much was obvious. Nothing sinister in that, she told me; the StB used them for everyone, including people they were interested in cultivating.
OK, but what were "GREENHOUSE I" and "GREENHOUSE II" - mentioned repeatedly in the files? The Czechoslovaks seemed obsessed with trying to penetrate these targets, and many of Dymic's approaches to British politicians - Jeremy Corbyn among them - were initiated with the aim of gaining access to them.
"GREENHOUSE…" the director frowned, peering at the screen. "I'm sorry...." she admitted, after a few minutes. "I've really got no idea."
Two days later, speeding down the motorway to Slovakia, I made a mental note to ask Agent Dymic - now just Jan Sarkocy - what this "GREENHOUSE" was. I had mixed feelings about this meeting, secured after many emails and texts. At home, the StB were the praetorian guard of Czechoslovak communism, responsible for hounding dissidents, torturing priests, and spying on a cowed population. Today, the epithet "estebak" - an StB officer - is still a term of abuse. They also had several high-profile successes abroad; recruiting two Labour MPs from the UK in the 1950s and 60s. Their rivals in military intelligence even recruited a Conservative one.
Media captionJan Sarkocy described Mr Corbyn as a "very, very good source"
After a huddle outside his house with Slovak reporters - where he made his explosive claims - Sarkocy had gone to ground, and was no longer talking. But finally, he relented, and so I now found myself outside his home in the village of Limbach, about half an hour north of Bratislava.
A thick layer of snow lay on the ground as we waited for him to answer the door. Lines from John Le Carre novels filled my head. "It is cold in Limbach at this time of the year," I said in an exaggerated East European accent, to ease the tension. My Czech colleague - there to film the interview - laughed.
In the end Jan Sarkocy was garrulous and friendly, still regarding his brief tenure in London with great affection. Most of what he told me, about an array of people and institutions, was so libellous - not to mention confusing - that I cannot even begin to repeat it here. But oddly not even he could remember what GREENHOUSE I and GREENHOUSE II were.
The answer finally came from a BBC colleague. "I've made some calls," he wrote. "The main effort of the StB abroad, as directed by their Russian masters, was to penetrate the UK's intelligence agencies. So GREENHOUSE I was probably Century House, the former headquarters of the SIS, more commonly known as MI6." Ah. And GREENHOUSE II was, I suppose, the headquarters of MI5.
The GREENHOUSE mystery solved, and the Corbyn frenzy dying down in London, I boarded a train back to Prague. As the 12:10 from Bratislava sped through the frozen fields, my head still spinning, I did what any journalist does at the end of a story: my expenses. Parking; two euros. Tram ticket: one. I suddenly had an image of Jan Sarkocy doing his in London 30 years ago.
A different job. A different era. But some things, I suppose, never change.


The Clitheroe Advertiser Christmas Toy Appeal with children from Ribblesdale Children's Centre and the Salvation Army.
The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times and the Ribble Valley branch of the Salvation Army have once again teamed up to launch their annual appeal to help families and children who might otherwise go without this Christmas.
For the 14th year running, the generosity of Valley residents will once again be called upon to help families less fortunate than themselves.
Elizabeth Smith (left) and Brenda Wise (right) from The Salvation Army launch the Clitheroe Advertiser's Christmas Toy Appeal.
We are once again appealing for the donation of new toys and gifts for different age groups from babies to teenagers.
The premise of the appeal is that presents for any age of child or teenager can be donated, as long as they are new.
The items will be distributed to families across the Ribble Valley, with the aim that each child receives a main gift, a craft item or game, a soft toy and a book.
Appeal co-ordinator Captain Elizabeth Smith, of the Salvation Army, said: “With the appeal now in its 14th year, we are still delighted and surprised every year that the wonderful people of this area continue to support it – their generosity has always been humbling.
“The reason that we ask for new toys is because some of the children we help have never had a toy that has not been previously belonged to someone else.
Captain Elizabeth is also reminding people – of all ages – about the Christmas Day lunch.
She is reaching out to lonely and vulnerable people providing an opportunity for them to be together to share a Christmas Day and not be isolated.
Anyone wanting to attend should contact Captain Elizabeth on 07709 351394.
Toys and donations can be dropped off at the Skipton Building Society in Market Place, Clitheroe, or at the Salvation Army shop on Lowergate in the town.
They will be collected and distributed to families in time for Christmas.


"If climate change is a total downer … it's going to be really hard to take action," said one of the scientists behind the UN climate panel's recent report on climate-driven threats to food, health and infrastructure.
One reaction is to talk up the business opportunities of doing things. Without doubt, there are many, and there is enormous scope for climate entrepreneurs. But there is a trap in hyping markets as the answer.
Many governments would like nothing more than to believe they can leave global warming to the unchallenged market. That means they wouldn't have to do anything themselves except murmur something green occasionally.
But if the market was going to solve the problem it would already be doing so, because the problem is decades old. Its price signal would already have reallocated resources to keep us living within planetary boundaries. Information would have flowed and risks been calculated in such a way that money retreated from activities damaging to a stable climate, and went into better alternatives.
Some bizarre anomalies suggest a deep-rooted inability to question the economic structures that are pushing us over the edge.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former "green governor" of California, is soon to star in a ground-breaking environmental series on US TV called Years of Living Dangerously. Importantly for the American market, it tackles climate change head-on.
It is made by the director James Cameron who made not only Schwarzenegger's defining film, Terminator, but also the epic Avatar, which told the story of humanity's assault on an alien race that lives at one with nature in a tropical, forest-like world.
In this new series, Schwarzenegger fronts an episode on the problem of forest fires. Other Hollywood luminaries include Harrison Ford, Jessica Alba and Matt Damon.
But, at least where Schwarzenegger is concerned, a laudable project is in danger of sending the message that we can have our planet and eat it, all due to a blind spot about financial markets. Research by Global Witness last week revealed record sums of money being invested in tropical deforestation with the largest investments coming from a US-based multibillion dollar investment company called Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA).
It turns out, thanks to declarations made during his time as governor of California, that Schwarzenegger has a major stake in DFA which, in turn, has shares in several of the world's most notorious logging companies, including a number of companies that have been implicated in illegal activities. Overall, since 2000 the world has lost the equivalent of 50 football pitches worth of forest every minute.
DFA's sales pitch to clients is that it is a "pioneer in financial engineering", and uses the "science of capital markets". One of its directors is the Nobel prize-winning economist Eugene Fama, who was dubbed the father of the "efficient market hypothesis". Famously, he played down the risks posed by the housing market before the sub-prime mortgage crisis triggered the broader financial crash of 2007-08.
Complex algorithms have long been a part of financial trading, but they've become ever more dominant as the speed of financial transactions makes individual human scrutiny impossible. But narrowly efficient markets have proved highly inefficient at spotting and avoiding systemic risks, whether to do with the housing market or, in this case, the preservation of a biosphere fit for human civilisation. Without in-built checks and balances, seemingly clever financial engineering can do terrible damage.
Here, the immediate, obvious irony of the environmentalist profiting from deforestation deepens. Arguably Schwarzenegger is most famous for his role as the Terminator, a robo-killer who travels back from the future to assassinate humanity's last hope in a future war against machines. Now, the real-life actor is tied-up in robo-funds that really do pose a threat to our survival chances.
Trusting that some vague notion of the market will come to save us is deeply misguided. That is partly why, perversely, the very industries that pose the greatest threat in terms of climate change would never rely on it. If the UN's estimate of $30bn a year sounds a lot to help protect tropical forests, it's worth remembering that an amount 63 times greater goes in subsidy alone to the fossil fuel sector globally.
Already this year thick clouds of smoke from forest fires in Indonesia are filling the air of major cities. These add to a huge human death toll from pollution-linked respiratory problems just as they also signal how we are compromising tropical forests that are the lungs of the world. It's a problem pushed by market mechanisms.
If Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to give advice on tackling fires at home, he could set an even better example by making sure his investments don't metaphorically pour petrol on them abroad.


STEPHEN Elliott now has Rangers in his sights after gunning down Kilmarnock on Tuesday night.
The Hearts striker may have to be content with a seat on the substitutes’ bench once more when the Ibrox side go calling on the capital but that doesn’t dent his belief that the Jambos are in the mood to do some damage.
Wit Kevin Kyle and Rudi Skacel set to come back after missing Rugby Park the Republic of Ireland star acknowledged everyone is buzzing at Tynecastle.
“The match against Rangers on Saturday is a massive one for us but we’re going into it full of confidence,” he confirmed.
“We all know the Old Firm have been stronger than the rest over the years but there is no reason why we can’t stay in touch with them this time.
The Jambos follow the clash with Gers with a midweek trip to meet Celtic at Parkhead in what manager Jim Jefferies has already declared is a vital spell.
“We did have a hiccup in the Scottish Cup when we were beaten by St.Johnstone and that made the game against Kilmarnock absolutely vital.
“We won it without Kevin and Rudi, too, so we have shown we have a good enough squad to get a victory in that kind of fixture.
Hearts are now unbeaten in ten SPL games – ironically their last defeat was against Killie in Gorgie – and if they continue that run they will inevitably push the Old Firm given the two games they have coming up over the weekend and midweek plus one more re-arranged one against Gers at the beginning of next month.


Anyone who watched Sergio García's thrilling sudden death victory in last weekend's Masters knows that golf can be dramatic. That tradition goes back 150 years to the time of Old Tom Morris, who won the Open Championship (what Americans call the British Open) in 1861, 1862, 1864 and 1867, before passing the mantle to his son, Young Tom or Tommy Morris, also a four-time winner.
The Morrises and their flinty, but ultimately tender relationship are the subject of the handsomely produced drama "Tommy's Honour," directed by Jason Connery and based on a book by Kevin Cook, who also wrote the screenplay with his wife, Pamela Marin.
Though ostensibly set on various links throughout Britain, this faithful and often moving film addresses much more than golf heroics, commenting on issues of tradition, class and family, especially the bonds between father and son.
Golf has changed a lot since the Morrises first teed their shots from small, handcrafted hills of dirt, and they contributed mightily to that modernization. Old Tom, the longtime greenskeeper at Scotland's Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, helped organize the first Open, hand-crafted balls and clubs in his shop and designed dozens of courses, rapidly evolving a sport that had already been played for four centuries. Young Tommy was a true innovator on the links, creating shots and strategies that would affect the game for decades.
In the film, Tommy is played with antsy rebellion by Jack Lowden, who bears a strong resemblance to Dennis Christopher, star of the 1979 cycling film "Breaking Away," another sports drama rooted in class with a strong father-son dynamic. Learning the game from Old Tom, played by Peter Mullan, Tommy surpasses his father by the time he is a teen.
Nothing but pride, and perhaps a lament of aging, passes over Old Tom's face as he watches his son's progress. The conflict between the two men largely emerges from Tommy's rejection of his father's working-class model of maintaining the course and attending to the club members' needs with lessons and equipment. In other words, knowing his place.
In the 19th century, amateurism was idealized, with professional athletes viewed as something like prized thoroughbreds, though with less social standing. Club members, real "gentlemen," staked professional golfers' matches, gambling large sums of money and then paying the golfers a small cut of the winnings. Tommy Morris challenged the status quo, successfully demanding a larger share.
Tommy chafes at the idea of the already rich men profiting from his talent. A bit of a dandy, he sees how the upper class lives and wants a piece of the action, standing up to the club's pompous chief, Alexander Boothby (cheekily played by Sam Neill), while earning the disapproval of Old Tom.
The elder Morris initially sees little need for change in a society that allows him to provide for his family, yet remain in debt. But through his love for Tommy, he bestows a begrudging acceptance. The veteran Mullan, best known for his work with Ken Loach and Danny Boyle, can do more with a narrowing of the eyes than most actors can with a soliloquy, and his ruddy features and stoic demeanor anchor the film, grounding it in social realism whenever it tends toward romanticism and sentimentality.
The younger Morris also bucks convention when he falls for Meg Drinnen ("Guardians of the Galaxy's" Ophelia Lovibond), a maid 10 years his senior. The film pins much of its story on their romance, a match met with judgment from the community and strong displeasure from Tommy's mother, Nancy (Therese Bradley). Fortunately, there is plenty of chemistry between Lowden and the winsome Lovibond, and their scenes of courtship both lighten the tone and earn our emotional investment.
Connery and his crew, including director of photography Gary Shaw, production designer James Lapsley and costume designer Rhonda Russell, richly evoke the harsh beauty of Scotland, while warmly re-creating the style and manners of the period. There's a certain "Chariots of Fire"-like reverence for all things golf and Scottish, but the woolly courses, a far cry from the manicured fairways of today, and comparatively crude implements used by the players, provide an earthy balance.
However, "Tommy's Honour's" greatest strength turns out to be its primary weakness, as well. It's surprisingly affecting, but there's a tendency to telegraph these pivotal emotional moments that in a way lessens their effect. It's a tribute to the film's overall craft, and especially its cast, that it's as much a winner as it is.


Sharp choices need to be made to maintain the current high standards in the Dutch education system, the schools inspectorate said on Wednesday in a new report.
The cracks which have been beginning to appear now threaten to get deeper and the future of the system is under threat, the inspectors say.
These cracks are apparent in falling results, inequality of opportunity and increasing socio-economic segregation, and this situation is being made worse, the inspectors say, by the shortage of teachers in some sectors.
This year, the education system needs a further 2,322 full time teachers and this will rise to around 4,200 vacancies in five years time.
In particular, schools with a ‘complex pupil body’ are being hard hit by the lack of teaching staff. ‘The shortages are bigger in schools with large ethnic minority populations, whether they are in cities or more rural areas,’ the inspectors say.
The inspectors also warn that more needs to be done to ensure schools produce youngsters who can easily slot into the labour market and meet the changing demands of the economy.


The FINANCIAL -- A new report from Accenture has found that while U.S. federal agencies are accelerating the modernization of their information technology (IT) systems and infrastructures, there are significant gaps in aligning their technology priorities with mission objectives.
In addition, despite many agencies reporting success implementing new technologies, only a small minority have fully adopted new approaches like cloud computing, digital platforms and agile software development, underscoring the gaps that many are facing in supporting more-agile operations.
The State of Federal IT 2018 report — based on the Accenture Federal Services (AFS) survey of 200 federal IT executives — sought to answer two primary questions: Is federal IT serving mission needs, and are agencies pivoting quickly enough to new technologies?
The results found that while IT organizations are making real progress in modernizing technology systems and infrastructures, more than two-thirds (70 percent) of IT decisionmakers report that they’re still playing an enabling role within their agency. At the same time, collaboration between the IT organization and mission, business and operations stakeholders are inconsistent. Only 47 percent of IT decisionmakers believe they’re effectively contributing to mission agility, and even fewer (39 percent) say they’re able to transform mission and business requirements into compelling business cases for new IT investment.
The report also assessed the extent to which federal agencies are adopting specific strategies and technologies, like Agile and DevOps, commercial cloud infrastructures and shared services/centers of excellence. Across the board, responses indicated a stronger focus on modernizing IT operations than on deploying capabilities that directly empower mission and business stakeholders.
For example, 54 percent describe commercial cloud infrastructure as either very important or essential to accelerating IT impact, while 40 percent say the same about software-as-a-service applications.
At the same time, commercial cloud adoption among federal agencies remains limited, with more than half (54 percent) of respondents saying they run only 25 percent or less of their infrastructure in the cloud.
While IT investments are becoming more of a priority for federal agencies, the path to technology modernization is not without challenges. More than four in 10 respondents cited lack of funding (48 percent), cybersecurity concerns (44 percent) and a reliance on legacy IT (40 percent) as major barriers to technology adoption. More than one-quarter (28 percent) of government executives said they are experiencing digital skills shortages, a major hinderance both now and into the future.
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If you want to live a long life, you might want to take up residence in The Heights.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center said they have calculated life expectancy for the first time down to both ZIP code and county levels in Texas.
A new interactive mapping tool allows users to see average life expectancy for their area by gender and race/ethnicity.
The Westfield area (ZIP code 77073) tops the Houston's average life expectancy list with 90.9 years for women and 88.7 years for men.
The Heights area (ZIP code 77007) also saw a high life expectancy, based on the research data, with 90.6 years for women and 88.1 years for men.
Outside of Houston, towns like Sugar Land and Pecan Grove in Fort Bend County, Arcola in Brazoria County, and Beach City in Chambers County all had higher than average life expectancy.
Within Harris County, county-level life expectancy was 78.9 years.
According to the research, Hispanic life expectancy was found to be three years longer than white life expectancy and almost six years longer life expectancy than black Texans.
The study also found white, Hispanic and black women had longer life expectancies than men of all races throughout the state of Texas.


DETROIT — Most major automakers reported double-digit U.S. sales gains for October, rolling along toward what could be a record year for the industry.
General Motors said that sales rose almost 16 percent in its most lucrative market, while Ford reported a 13 percent gain. Nissan sales rose 12.5 percent over a year ago, and Fiat Chrysler’s were up nearly 15 percent. Honda sales rose 8.6 percent, while Volkswagen, mired in an emissions-cheating scandal, posted just a small gain.
The car-buying site TrueCar.com predicted that October sales would rise 11.4 percent to 1.4 million. That would be the best October since 2001, when zero-percent financing offers after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks pushed sales to 1.6 million, according to the LMC Automotive forecasting firm. Toyota reports sales later Tuesday.
GM said sales have run at an annual rate of 17.8 million for the past six months, putting the year on track to break the annual record of 17.35 million set in 2000.
“It’s going to be hard not to hit that record at this pace,” said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of auto sales forecasting for LMC Automotive, an industry consulting firm. Schuster noted that the industry has roared back from weak sales in the early months of the year.
Sales have been greased by cheap financing, low gas prices and an improving economy. Automakers have induced buyers further by offering incentives on slower-selling models.
GM says it sold almost 263,000 vehicles last month, led by the Chevrolet Silverado pickup with a 10 percent increase to nearly 52,000. Sales of the Chevrolet brand rose nearly 18 percent for its best October in 11 years. GMC and Cadillac also posted double-digit gains, while Buick sales fell slightly.
Ford Motor Co.’s sales jumped to nearly 214,000. The recently updated Edge SUV saw big gains, while sales of the sporty Mustang more than doubled. Ford’s biggest seller, the F-Series pickup, rose 3 percent to 65,500. But sales fell 4.5 percent at Ford’s luxury Lincoln brand.
Volkswagen sold just 74 more cars in October than it did a year ago, for a gain of 0.2 percent. Sales of the Jetta Sedan and Golf, including gasoline and diesel models, each fell by more than 36 percent, offset somewhat by a 25 percent gain in sales of the midsize Passat.
VW has admitted that software on four-cylinder diesel engines turned on pollution controls during government tests and turned them off during on-road driving. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday accused VW of cheating on six-cylinder models as well, a charge that VW denies.
Last month was Fiat Chrysler’s strongest October since 2001 with sales of about 196,000, led by the booming Jeep brand with a 33 percent increase. Sales were just over 170,000 a year ago.
At Nissan, sales rose to just over 116,000 from 103,000 a year ago. Sales of the Nissan Rogue small crossover SUV jumped 70 percent to almost 25,000.
Overall, some of the gains were likely due to increased incentives as automakers tried to clear 2015 models off dealer lots. TrueCar said automakers spent 14.1 percent more than last October on cash-back promotions and other deals. Chevrolet was offering zero-percent financing for up to 72 months on a 2015 Camaro, while Toyota advertised $2,000 cash back on a 2015 Avalon sedan.
There were other favorable factors. Interest rates remained at record lows last month, and gas prices fell. The national average gas price reached an eight-month low of $2.20 per gallon in the last week of October, down 85 cents from the previous year. That’s putting a lot more money in car buyers’ pockets. Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for the Oil Price Information Service, said U.S. motorists spent $27.8 billion on gasoline last month, down 29 percent from last October.
October sales also were boosted by five weekends instead of the normal four. Saturday is usually the biggest day of the week for auto dealers.


ClearArc Capital announced today it has been recognized with Top Guns status by Informa Investment Solutions' PSN manager database. Three of the firm's strategies were among the top 10 performers within one or more peer groups reporting to the PSN database. Utilizing a proprietary blend of Informa Investment Solutions' top priority performance screens, PSN Top Guns ranks products in six proprietary star categories in over 50 universes.
Mitch Stapley, CFA, Chief Investment Officer for ClearArc Capital states, "It is an honor to be recognized by Informa, especially across three of our strategies which we feel is indicative of the experience, depth, and chemistry of our investment team. Our Strategic Income Plus and Core Plus Fixed Income strategies continue to garner attention with our focus on providing high income, lessening correlation to traditional fixed income, and our risk management capabilities. In addition, our liquidity strategies are very customized based on client investment flexibility and cash flow needs. We are proud that our risk management approach helped lead us to the top ranking in the PSN Short Maturity universe for the period. We continue to maintain an eye on risk given the uncertainty in today's markets and look forward to helping our clients meet their investment goals."
For the first quarter, the Core Plus Universe consisted of 104 firms and 136 products. The Short Maturity Universe consisted of 153 firms and 254 products.
According to Informa Investment Solutions' PSN manager database ranking system, products in the 5 and 6-Star category must have an R-Squared of 0.80 or greater relative to the style benchmark for the recent five-year period. Moreover, products must have returns greater than the style benchmark for the three latest three-year rolling periods. After that they select only the products which standard deviation for the five-year period is equal or less than the median standard deviation for the peer group. The top ten returns for the latest three-year period then become the 5-Star Top Guns, while the top ten information ratios for the latest five-year period then become the 6-Star Top Guns. Products earn the 1-Star rating as top ten performers within their respective universes, based on quarterly returns.
"We congratulate ClearArc Capital on their distinction as a PSN Top Gun. This highly anticipated quarterly ranking recognizes elite performers on the leading investment manager database in North America and is widely used by institutional asset managers and investors across our platform," said Leno Toich, Managing Director of Informa Investment Solutions. "PSN Top Guns ranks products in six proprietary star categories in over 50 universes."
The complete list of PSN Top Guns and an overview of the methodology can be located on http://www.informais.com/resources/psn-top-guns. For more details on the methodology behind the PSN Top Guns Rankings or to purchase PSN Top Guns Reports, contact Ruth Calderon at ruth.calderon@informais.com.
A market leader in intelligence and software solutions for investment professionals and financial institutions of all sizes, Informa Investment Solutions offers a robust set of analytics and tools to help you grow and retain your business. With a nearly 40-year history, Informa Investment Solutions is part of Informa PLC, a leading business-to-business knowledge provider serving International markets. Informa Investment Solutions has set the standard for providing turnkey and customizable applications for performing manager searches, building wealth plans, and producing client reports and investment marketing materials for companies worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.informais.com/ and follow https://twitter.com/InformaInvest.
ClearArc Capital, Inc. provides investment strategies designed to meet the evolving needs of institutional clients. The firm offers a unique approach that includes research across capital structures in the search for income and return. Through specialized investment teams that are highly adaptive to today's markets, ClearArc Capital maintains a primary focus on client success.


When I was young and less wise I frequently lost vacation time because I thought I was too busy to go. No more, SpongeBob. The last two weeks were just the ticket for recharging my batteries.
Monday night’s Chamber of Commerce installation dinner at The Nugget was actually fun (I’ve attended four thousand of these). Patriots were everywhere and several local businesses accepted deserving awards.
Congressman Jim Gibbons’ excellent speech could only be given by someone with his military service. Young Cethe Autumn sang the national anthem and “God Bless America,” stealing the whole show.
My personal survival strategy vis a vis Washington, D.C., these days is to simply ignore them. I can hardly stand the hypocritical corporate bashing from politicians.
Those same corporate leaders now described as the devil were once held up as national heroes. Just two short years ago these same people graced the covers of national magazines as geniuses.
I can’t argue that some are jail-bound crooks guilty of stealing from investors. However, our country relies on courageous corporate executives to innovate, invest, and take risk. The foundation of much of our economy is the entrepreneurial executive.
Legislation demanding clarity of reporting is fine, but I distrust any legislation causing undue risk-aversion. Politicians who think business leaders are evil should simply refuse to accept business donations while updating their resumes.
Shhhh E Capital City Entertainment is about to celebrate birthday number 15. The gaming/food/entertainment companies in town support good and important things in our community while employing thousands of our friends and neighbors. I wish Capital City a happy birthday with wishes that the next 15 years bring even more success.
It sounded as though the opening of the special session of the Nevada Legislature was a zoo, but with results. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary circumstances and I applaud Gov. Guinn and legislative leaders for working to solve this important issue (I don’t know enough of the details yet to say that I agree with the result, but the work toward a solution is encouraging).
The brother of a senior advertising executive here at the Nevada Appeal had a tragic accident recently and was sent to the recently reopened trauma center in Las Vegas. They probably saved his life and certainly improved his chances for recovery. If one result of the special session is the retention of our good doctors and stability of our hospitals, we’re all for it.
The governor recently told us about his own health battle and recovery efforts. It’s tough for public officials to tell us about issues as personal as health problems, but one of the benefits is that encourages the rest of us to pay better attention to our own health.
Guinn’s announcement encouraged me to make an appointment for a long-overdue physical. I hope the rest of you middle-aged guys like me take his cue. Governor, we look forward to the day you announce you’ve won this health battle.
Peter Starren is publisher of the Nevada Appeal.


Egyptian police killed one Christian and wounded dozens of others in a new escalation of violence with Coptics trying to build a church.
Egyptian police shot and killed one Christian and wounded dozens of others Wednesday morning in a new escalation of violence with Coptics trying to build a church near the pyramids. A senior police officer and 12 soldiers also were wounded.
Police fired tear gas and arrested more than two dozen protesters after they hurled stones and firebombs in a demonstration of 200 Christians against the government’s ban on the Coptics’ attempt to complete the building of a church.
Egyptian authorities have maintained that the church is being built without a permit, but the Coptics, a minority of 10 percent in the country, have complained of discrimination in favor of Muslims.
The building now serves as a community center, and Egyptian police Wednesday morning arrested construction workers on their way to the site, where work has began.
Non-Muslims need special presidential approval to build religious edifices, while getting a permit for Muslims is relatively easy.
Tensions between Muslims and Christians are likely to rise next month, when a court hearing will be heard in the case of three Muslims suspected of killing six Coptic Christians and a Muslim earlier this year.
Egypt responded by saying that no other country should act as a monitor over other nations. “Each country can understand its own problems and challenges and work on them efficiently,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.


PHILADELPHIA -- Brian Westbrook was knocked out with a concussion. He was on the ground, motionless, with only his brother and Eagles coach Andy Reid allowed near him.
Westbrook walked off the field, but he would not return.
He may not be back as the Eagles enter the grueling part of their schedule.
The Eagles played only one team (New Orleans) with a winning record in the first six games and blew a major shot at sharing the NFC East lead with an embarrassing loss to struggling Oakland (2-5). Now the schedule gets tougher.
Up next, Sunday's game against the New York Giants only hours before the Phillies play the Yankees across the street in Game 4 of the World Series. Then another home game against Dallas. The outcomes could shake up the NFC playoff picture.
ASHBURN, Va. -- There's a chance Chris Cooley will be back this season after all.
A doctor's second opinion on the Washington Redskins tight end's broken right ankle Tuesday gave Cooley hope that he can return to the field in a month.
The two-time Pro Bowl player will have surgery Wednesday, and he gave details via his Twitter feed: "3 pins go in the ankle tomorrow. Hopefully be back in 4 weeks. Thanks for all the support."
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz wasn't about to tip his hand about the recovery of quarterback Matt Stafford.
The rookie quarterback has missed the last two games with a knee injury, and with backup Daunte Culpepper (hamstring) also at less than 100 percent, Schwartz is going to make the St. Louis Rams try to prepare for Stafford, Culpepper and third-stringer Drew Stanton.
TAMPA -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released offensive lineman Marcus Johnson after his arrest on a charge of driving under the influence. Johnson was arrested and later released on $500 bail.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson issued his second apology in 12 months Tuesday and was told to stay away from the team while the NFL and the Chiefs complete their investigation into his use of a gay slur. As Johnson was releasing his apology, a national gay rights advocacy organization called on the league and the team to take disciplinary action against the two-time Pro Bowler.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco 49ers took a big blow to their already struggling offensive line Tuesday, losing right tackle Tony Pashos for the season with a broken left shoulder blade.
The 49ers placed Pashos on injured reserve a day after he had an MRI exam on the shoulder. The veteran offensive lineman was hurt during Sunday's 24-21 loss at Houston, his first start at right tackle in place of Adam Snyder.


27 Jan 2016, 4:48 p.m.
The rumors are true, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans. A new game featuring your favorite crime-fighting Heroes in a Half-Shell is coming your way later this year.
Developed by Japanese Studio PlatinumGames and published by Activision, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan will challenge players to protect New York City from "aliens, mutants, and the Foot Clan," the companies announced Tuesday. The game is slated to arrive this summer on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Windows PC via Steam.
The game will feature a single-player campaign as well as a four-player online co-op. Each turtle has their own combat style, and can be customized with a set of Ninjutsu moves, combat items, and special bonuses.
Leonardo is the most well-founded of the bunch, with a "medium-ranged reach and moderate attack speed," Platinum's Robert Cooper wrote in a Tuesday post on the PlayStation blog. Raphael, meanwhile, is "a little bit slower, but … a powerhouse," while Mikey has the speediest attacks but a limited strike zone due to his nunchucks. Last but not least, Donatello has the longest reach of the bunch, thanks to his staff.
The game will also feature a number of iconic TMNT enemies, like Shredder and his long-time accomplices Bebop and Rockstead.
"But be prepared — defeating Bebop, Rocksteady, Shredder, and other iconic bosses won't be easy," Platinum and Activision said in a statement.


Helicopters combat shopping centre fire Jump to media player The fire broke out at a five-storey shopping mall in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku.
Huge fire in Paris apartment building Jump to media player Ten people have died and many more have been injured in the blaze in south-western Paris.
Fire sweeps through Ocado warehouse Jump to media player About 200 firefighters have been tackling the fire at the robot-run distribution centre.
Houston chemical fire to rage for days Jump to media player A chemical fire in Texas has been going on for three days, and fire officials say could go on for two more.
Nightclub building destroyed by fire Jump to media player Roads around Maidenhead town centre are closed due to the fire which began at about 02:00 GMT.
Firefighters have used two helicopters to put out a fire in a shopping mall in Azerbaijan.
They were called to the Diglas Trade Center in the capital Baku.
Ten people were treated for smoke inhalation after being evacuated from the building.


After an inspired and instructive victory against Argentina, Dejan Lovren believes Croatia’s current crop showed they are superior to the country's much-celebrated 1998 side.
Zlatko Dalic’s men sealed a place in the World Cup last 16 on Thursday by recording a resounding 3-0 win in Nizhny Novgorod in their second Group D assignment. Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic got the goals as the two-time winners were put to the sword.
Although the result, helped somewhat by an error-strewn Argentina, came as a surprise to many, Lovren said he always believed such a performance was possible. He lauded the talent in the side, headlined by captain Modric and ably supported by the likes of Rakitic, Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic.
So much so, in fact, that the Liverpool centre-back feels the class of 2018 shades the 1998 team boasting Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosinecki.
Then, Croatia reached the semi-finals and eventually finished third – their best result at the World Cup.
Lovren stopped short at saying the Argentina triumph elevated Croatia to among the favourites for the title, citing Spain, France, Brazil and world champions Germany as the tournament’s obvious “big names”.
However, he said Thursday’s victory showed Croatia need not fear anyone. What is more, it would have sent out a statement to their rivals in Russia.
A point against Iceland on Tuesday will guarantee Croatia finish top of the group and potentially avoid France in the first knockout round. Lovren said that, with success against Argentina and Nigeria already, the target is to clinch first place in the pool, although not because he wants to keep away from anyone.
“To be honest, I don’t mind,” he said. “Whoever comes we are ready to fight and even France or whoever, like I said, would know they have a tough opponent. We played a friendly against Brazil, [earlier this month, a 2-0 defeat], where we showed first half that we can play against, for me, one of the favourites also.
Lovren praised the collective for keeping Lionel Messi largely on the periphery, saying their plan to play a strong defensive block had paid dividends. He did reserve special praise for Modric, though, who was voted man of the match following a stunning curled finish that capped another commanding performance.
“Amazing,” Lovren said. “I said to him his goal reminded me of when he scored against Man United with Real Madrid. A similar goal, fantastic, and he was again one of the best players today.


I have had AAA insurance for my life and home for 8 yrs, and have never had a problem in any way with them, and I love that they don't bombard me with mail I don't need like so many other companies I deal with. I would highly recommend AAA.
I began buying life insurance from AAA Life Insurance Company more than 15 years ago and have always had confidence in them that when needed they would be there to meet my needs. I have converted from a term life policy to a whole life policy. When I called the 800 contact number to convert my policy the representative helped me to choose the right amount of coverage that I could afford at that time. Thanks to them. I feel better about leaving something behind to cover expenses after my death.
It is good to have just in case the unexpected happens. God forbid my family will be taken care of and won't be left with the burden of trying to find or borrow money to try to pay bills or party down with and I won't have to be buried in a cardboard box. Instead I'll be in a fancy pine box with no lid and a bunch of holes thanks to my life insurance.
My insurance company is usually very proficient. They answer all my questions. They help me find the best plan for me. Most representatives are very friendly and usually can help me relatively quickly. I have noticed in the past they oftentimes have a long hold time when communicating by phone. A rep will usually call me once a year to update my information and make any changes needed.
I feel great knowing my husband and I are covered for a great price! There is also a great price for adding riders or children on the life insurance policies. They are always very helpful and amazing and always willing to help in any way they can. We love having our life insurance, car insurance, and home insurance all with the same company! We also have great experience with roadside assistance as well. We always feel great and well taken care of, and we are always happy to call and ask questions! It never hurts to call and get a quote!
This insurance company is well known and the products they sell are competitive in the market place. I have not had any problems with AAA and the service from them has been good. The contact information and customer service is readily available and the information I receive thru the mail is always current. I would certainly recommend this company to anyone needing insurance products of any nature.
I really don't have much experience with AAA Life Insurance, other than I have money automatically deducted from my bank account on a monthly basis for my premium. Saying that, I've had no problems with AAA, other than not having success actually logging onto the website so I can see exactly what benefits I have available to me. I've had this policy for more than 20 years. I honestly can't say whether I would or would not recommend them, because I don't know enough, nor do I have enough information, to give an informed opinion. Suffice to say they are an established, reputable company.
AAA is very cheap and affordable for someone who is my age. It's so easy to apply, not very many questions to answer on the application and their customer service is always on point. There's no hassle or haggle. They are straight, direct and to the point. I would recommend to anyone.
I have had nothing but good customer service. The rates are reasonable. They even adjusted my payments after I retired. They also help with my wife's payments and made sure we were able to keep our payments as low as possible in order to keep the coverage that we have. They are a class act when it comes to customer service and looking out for their clients.
I am happy with my life insurance because the amount increases each year... I mean the amount due on my death. I have been with them for over forty years and my yearly premium never increases so I think I have very good coverage. They are a well known company so I have no reason my children will get their due when I am gone. What more could I ask for? Because I know I am well covered, this gives me good peace of mind to know that the money will be there. I also like my insurance co. because if I am in a bind and need money I can easily take out a certain amount. I have done this in the past and it was a very easy. I just called them and they sent me a form to fill out and I received what I requested. I do not know if all insurance companies would enable me to do this but mine does so that is another reason my insurance co. is the best.
The truth I'm too pleased with my life insurance because every time I've needed your assistance has been timely and effective in a complete look... Until now no complaints of it and wanted to continue in the same way though if I would like to note that sometimes waiting times are variants leaving some uncertainty in its response.
I am satisfied with my coverage of AAA life insurance. I have had the policy for many years now. The representative came to my home to discuss and ask questions to determine whether or not I would qualify for their insurance. Once I qualified it was a quick process to get everything finalized. I don't have a large policy with them but it will help my family cover funeral expenses when the time comes.
I'm a new member of this life insurance and I have had no bad experience with it up til now. I am very, very, very happy with their service. They have different plans and are even affordable and attainable. It sure, sure, sure is a very good company. I have nothing to complain about the service of this company.
I like their services. It's easy to communicate and I been using it for like 5 years now. They never fail to impress me, got everything I need. It provide my family a better insurance. Low payment deductible, worth to join. They are there when you need them. Better than other insurance that I use to have before. I will keep this for very long time as I lived! Thank you very much for your service to the customer like me!
I have several different insurance policies w/ triple AAA. Their auto insurance policy is above and beyond. It has been there for me more than once just w/ a tow truck in an emergency breakdown situation. My Homeowners policy is gold standard. Once, during an extremely high-wind storm, a large tree fell on my garage, crushing an entire side in. The AAA guy was there the day after the storm and had a construction crew was at my home the next day. The repairs were completed in 3 days and AAA immediately made follow-up contact w/ me. AAA is not inexpensive, but it's worth the cost.
I signed up for a whole life insurance policy with AAA Life and I have had no issues since 2011 when the policy was issued. I have a local agent and they have earned my trust. I understand that most people on here are discouraged. However, life insurance policies are for investment purposes and must be treated as such and maintained just like a relationship.
Life insurance really are a ripoff to me. You have to pay a life time then a take you through so much to get life insurance. They want to know your whole life history then if you have a condition such as asthma or COPD they up your insurance or don't want to insure you.
Easy to work with, friendly, reliable, reputable company who I would recommend to friends and family. Good rates and fast quotes with easy to understand language.
I've had no problems with my life insurance company. Would highly recommend them to others. Rates and premiums are among the best I've seen in a long time.
I was told when I purchased your ins that accident by or an electric wheel chair were covered - now I am told you do not cover electric wheel chairs. Please explain why your salespeople and your staff claim adjuster would say this is covered - is a claim occurring in an electric wheel chair covered???
My father passed away Dec.15, 2014. He had a life insurance policy with AAA, which he had paid on for years and was never late on a single payment. On the policy it states that my mother is to receive 50% and my 4 brothers and myself are each to receive 10% after all funeral expenses are paid. It also states on the policy that all funds would be released within 10 business days after the policy holder is deceased. It had now been 28 days and nobody has received anything other than an excuse every time we call to find out why we have not received our checks.
If my father had known how incompetent this Insurance Company is, he would have never given them a dime. This company lacks customer service and they do not honor their end of their own policy whatsoever. I would never leave my family the burden of having to deal with this company's ignorance just to have what I left them.
I only had my life insurance for a short time. About three months. One of my main concerns was will I get my money back if I cancel? I was told I would. I did need to cancel and got one lousy payment back. Buyer beware!!!
We purchased a $50,000 life insurance policy from AAA - soon after that my 50-year-old husband died of lung cancer. He did not smoke, and had never smoked! In January 2009, he had a physical. All was well. In March, he participated in my son's Eagle scout project - He died June 14, 2009. Only 4 weeks prior to his death - he began having problems. Because he had not had the policy 1 year, AAA launched an investigation getting medical records - they cited (honest!!!) his high cholesterol & a fatty cyst that had been removed a few years prior, saying we did not properly fill out application.
I reported it to the NC dept of insurance - and the quick response indicated to me they never investigated anything. $50,000 was not enough money to interest an attorney to take on a large company. So after multiple letters requesting they re-evaluate their decision, they issued my refund for premiums paid. That was that. Since that time, AAA has continued to send me offers to purchase their insurance. I have noticed they have changed their application questions. My husband was never sick, was in seemingly good health, had annual physicals, wellness visits etc. When he began having noticeable symptoms, his doctor thought he had gall bladder issues - but when they did a p. scan he was found to have cancer in all his organs. It was phenomenal in the worst way. AAA has made a terrible time in my life that much worse - as my husband had no other insurance. There was never anything in his medical records to indicate he may, might or could have cancer - never any questionable issues. Only factor was the policy was not in effect for the 1 year.
My mother had a whole life policy through AAA less than a year and she recently passed away in August 2013 and I'm the beneficiary. I reported her death the same day and signed some few forms (claims) and told to write down a few sentences concerning her death (how she died). I went in the office after receiving the death certificate. The agent who sold me the policy told me shouldn't take longer than two weeks. I wanted the funds to go to direct deposit. Been three weeks now and nothing. So I call the agent to get an update and now she said they are waiting to get medical release from her doctor.
Since her policy is less than a year, they have to do some investigation. She advised me to give the clinic a call and I did that but the clinic never received any type of letter or fax from AAA. So I called the agent back and left her a voice mail since she's probably busy but never heard anything from her for three days so I decided to call the 1800 numbers on the policy and explain the situation. And now this customer person is saying that they did receive the claim paperwork and are waiting for this company called: "ICS" to get medical records from her doctor and that someone will be contacting me. I have not heard anything from them!
I asked the customer how long it will take. She said six months to a year. I offer to get the medical records for them but she said I couldn't do that and it's up to the ICS to get it. And that I have to wait and hear from them! Been four weeks and have not heard anything from anyone! I am so frustrated with this company! They don't live up to their words. On the policy, it stated clearly that if the insurer dies and policy is still in full force they will pay out to beneficiary. I don't see funds in my account!! This company just delays so they don't have to pay and will come up with dirt just so they will deny you without a good cause! So please pass on the words about this company, nothing but a fraud!!
I spoke with an agent of triple A Life insurance to get a quote for me. So I just realized they have been withdrawing from my account for the last five months and I never received any policy. I tried to get an interview with him and he told me he was busy with a few church meetings. What type of company is this? If there is anybody in the company who can fix this, I appreciate to have my money back - reinstated back in to my bank account. I am totally unsatisfied with this.
I signed up for a $200,000 policy. It was issued at a reasonable price. I set up up everything on the automatic payment option and forgot about it. Now two years later, I just happened to look and noticed rather large withdrawals coming out of my account on a quarterly basis and discovered that they had doubled my initial premium. I have not had one illness. Nothing has changed health-wise (a clean bill of health). I guess I should have known better. I wrote to them tonight telling them to cancel my policy. Unbelievable how they raised the rates so quickly.
Fraudulent agency - In January 2012, I dropped off a change of payment information with a copy of the contact and deposit ticket in the mail drop box at the AAA Daly City office. May 2012, I received a letter from AAA stating that my above mentioned life insurance policy has been terminated due to breach of payment. I was shocked because I did my share to inform AAA of my new payment information and it is set up to be auto withdrawal each month. I tried numerous times to resolve the issue with AAA and was suggested by the Daly City office agent, ** that they can reinstate the policy if I agreed to do a new physical examination. I feel that this is not a proper and ethical business conduct because my life policy was terminated without any advance notification.
There was no phone call or registered mail from AAA prior to the termination. However, they had contacted me via phone and mails for other issues and I wonder why AAA did not even try to contact me at all for such a big decision, termination of my life policy. This is a long term investment for any individual and should not just change or terminate without trying their best to contact their customer. I also talked to their Daly City office manager and was told that they have been having problems with their mails in the drop box.
As a customer, I did my share to inform AAA of the changes and if there is any problem, AAA should contact me instead of making the decision on their end only. AAA had been a very reputable insurance company and consumer trusted their business integrity. In this case, I feel that they tried whatever method to terminate a life policy after they had made enough money from that particular person. I demand AAA to reinstate my life insurance policy without any condition. Furthermore, they should implement an improvement in their inbox system and monitor their contacting system with their clients on situation like my case.
I took a policy with AAA back in July of 2006. I was told that this policy was a Return on Premium Policy; which was explained to me that if I decided for any reason to cancel my policy, AAA would refund the premiums I had paid in. I acknowledged that I was interested so AAA sent a representative to my office to perform a physical exam. The lady who came also reiterated that the policy had a Return on Premium.
In April of 2011, I incurred expenses that has made it had to sustain this policy. So I called the insurance company thinking I could maybe borrow from it and was told that I only had the option to cancel the policy and get my premium refunded. In July, I called AAA again to ask how this process would work. At that time, I was told I would need to send in a written statement or send back my monthly bill with cancel written on it and to make sure I signed and date it. I did so on July 25th.
On July 30th, I called to see if my cancellation notice had been received and if there was anything else I needed to do. I was told, at that time, AAA had not received it but I could wait until August 18th and just let my policy laps. I decided not to wait so I faxed a second notice. I called the beginning of August and was told that I would receive a notice in the mail. I got a notice today, August 12th, stating that AAA had canceled my policy on June 18th and would not be sending me a refund.
I called and spoke with a representative who informed me that I had to have the policy for 6 years before they would refund me. I explained that I was not informed of that at anytime. I specifically called to find out about canceling the policy and getting a refund twice before I canceled, and at no time, did anyone told me that I wasn't eligible. I was lead to believe a refund would be given. If someone had told me this, I could have made a way to keep my policy until next year which would have met the criteria. I really feel duped by AAA.
About 8 years ago, we purchased 3 life insurance policies, one for my husband, myself, and one for our then 10 year old daughter. I have been paying monthly for the premiums, and my husband, and my account have been gaining interest and money, we can borrow against. Last month, my daughter's policy did not come out of my checking account, and I contacted AAA Life. who told me that the policy was under funded when it was written, and that in 2008, 2 years ago, they were supposed to contact me, and tell me that it needed to be changed.
This never happened. We are not told that we have to pay $146.00 to have the policy updated, or re-write the policy, however the money I've invested into the policy will be gone, along with any interest that was supposed to be there over the last 8 years, and that this has happened to a lot of people, and only found due to an audit. I was one of the lucky ones, because I only have to pay $146.00, while others have to pay thousands.
When I talked to my rep and asked her who I should contact at the corporate offices, she gave me a name and phone number, and told me that it would not be a good time to call, as this person told her to say that to me, and that she would not be accepting any calls. I have left messages for AAA corporate offices to call me, and I have gotten no response. They have my updated information, changes in address etc., and still i hear nothing about a mistake on their part and that I have to pay for them to correct. But I'm lucky! My daughter's policy is now in limbo, and all they are saying is to re-write it, and all the money I invested is gone.
I am legally disabled, and coming up with money to get the policy right, is a hardship, and should be taken care of my AAA Corp., who's agent wrote the policy, and who's audit found it, when it should have been caught over 2 years ago. I understand we are not the only ones. We have lost the interest on money that could have been there for our daughter, no matter how small, as well as all the money we spent on the policy over the last 8 years.


Policymakers from Congress to the state and local levels are sharpening their focus on the educational needs of children in foster care, a population that can exceed 700,000 nationally in the course of a year and which has doubled in the past two decades.
In many cases, their strategies coincide with recommendations outlined in a recent report on California’s massive foster-care system: access to preschool for foster children, specialized training for teachers, and making sure child-welfare agencies have educational liaisons.
“A focus on school readiness and school success may not heal all the damage already inflicted early in the lives of foster children, but it can give these children—and many of their peers—the fighting chance they need and deserve to thrive as adults,” says the report , released last month by the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning in Santa Cruz, Calif., and Mental Health Advocacy Services Inc., a Los Angeles-based public-interest law firm.
• The reauthorization of the federal Head Start preschool program last fall lists children in foster care as one of the groups designated to receive priority for enrollment.
• Efforts are under way in Congress to include foster children in the federal McKinney-Vento Act, which is meant to provide school stability, transportation, and other educational services for homeless children.
• A six-state project launched by the National Governors Association last month includes improved school performance for foster children as one of its goals in an effort to cut the number of children in foster care by 50 percent in the next 12 years.
Such efforts are intended to help compensate for a range of challenges facing children in foster-care placement.
Foster-care providers tend to have fewer resources to support learning than do traditional families, according to William O’Hare, the coordinator of Kids Count, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a Baltimore-based philanthropy.
For example, U.S. Census Bureau data show that the average income in foster households is lower than that of traditional homes with children—$56,364, compared with $74,301. In addition, Mr. O’Hare said, foster parents are more likely than traditional parents to be unemployed and have less than a high school education.
At a recent presentation to a Population Association of America conference in New Orleans, where he outlined those statistics, Mr. O’Hare said such factors can have serious drawbacks for the educational success of children in foster care.
The NGA pilot program begun last month seeks to address some of those issues, even as it aims to bring down the numbers of children in out-of-home placements.
The association’s Center for Best Practices has chosen six states— Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina—to participate in a “policy academy” to work on the project.
One of the states’ tasks will be to improve collaboration among various agencies that all might have an interest in helping the same child. A lack of cooperation between social workers and educators is often blamed for gaps in children’s learning.
And while the primary aim is to bring down the numbers of children in foster care, the initiative also will seek to improve school performance, said Joan Smith, the senior director of systems improvement at Casey Family Programs, a partner in the project.
In addition, at least two of the states, Pennsylvania and Ohio, have included education officials as team members.
In California, which is home to more than 10 percent of the nation’s children in foster care, the recent report by education and mental-health experts outlines a variety of strategies that policymakers and practitioners can use to reverse the many learning deficits among such children.
The report is the culmination of work conducted in 2005 and 2007 by the California Education Collaborative for Children in Foster Care, a committee that included child-welfare and education experts, former foster children, lawyers, and researchers. The Stuart Foundation, based in San Francisco, has supported the project with a $326,000 grant.
It notes that children in foster care are more likely to repeat grades, to be in special education, and to leave school without a high school diploma.
The authors place a special emphasis on making sure children under age 5—who make up 32 percent of the more than 74,000 foster children in the state—receive preschool and early-intervention services.
Social workers, foster parents, and other caregivers, the authors recommend, should receive training on early brain development and the developmental problems that can occur for foster children. Preschool slots should also be increased in neighborhoods with high concentrations of foster families, such as low-income and minority neighborhoods, the report says.
See data on California's public school system.
California and Delaware also have taken steps to allow children to stay in the schools they were attending before being placed in foster care, an effort to address the problem of high mobility that can disrupt children’s education.
“That is a discussion that is happening in a lot of jurisdictions,” added Robin Nixon, the executive director of the Washington-based National Foster Care Coalition, an advocacy organization.
But Ms. Henderson said that a 2003 California law never specified who would cover the cost of transportation if children are placed in foster homes outside their schools’ attendance zones.
Ms. Henderson noted that while California’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit won’t allow for major new initiatives in this area, existing legislation could be more fully implemented.
California’s 2003 law also allows for foster children to enroll in schools even if they lack the proper records and for students to receive partial credit for a course. But advocates say there is sometimes still resistance among school staff regarding such matters, and that more awareness is needed.
“There is so little sunshine on the issue, and the kids are kind of invisible, and they get bounced around,” Ms. Henderson said.
Ms. Nixon and other advocates say they have seen an increase in efforts elsewhere to elevate foster children’s educational needs.
Eight years ago, Advocates for Children of New York—a nonprofit organization that focuses on securing educational services for children at risk of school failure—was trying to get New York City child-welfare agencies to share data on children in foster care.
The intention was to better understand the educational needs of those students, many of whom qualify for special education services.
The advocacy group ran a pilot project from 2002 to 2004 in the now-closed Louise Wise Services, a child-welfare agency, in which members of the group’s staff, including education lawyers, were placed inside the agency to focus on children’s academic needs.
Advocates for Children made a big push to make sure the child welfare agencies in the city were enrolling children in tutoring services under the No Child Left Behind Act, said Gisela Alvarez, a senior project officer at the organization.
The city has even created an education unit within its Administration for Children’s Services, which contracts with agencies to handle child placements.
“Just the presence of having someone focused on education really changed the culture of the agency,” said Ms. Alvarez.
“Foster Children,” February 20, 2007.
“Teens Released From Foster Care Too Early, Report Says,” May 25, 2005.
“Study: Foster Children Often Trail Their Peers in School,” December 8, 2004.


Picked up by the ever-vigilant SamMobile, a new hands-on video has exposed a deal-breaking problem with Samsung’s imminent screen-folding smartphone: a permanent crease runs down the middle of the display.
Furthermore, there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of this video (below). The phone is fully operational, stock is hitting the supply chain and it is identical to the device Samsung recently unveiled. Needless to say, however, Samsung’s official renders omit the ugly crease.
With Samsung charging almost $2,000 for the Galaxy Fold, I would expect this defect to be a deal-breaker for many buyers. It also venerates the design Huawei chose for its show-stealing Mate X (which results in a softer bend) and explains why Apple’s work on a folding iPhone is so heavily focused on using a malleable glass display.


The dams on the Snake River are operated under a plan called the Federal Columbia River Biological Opinion, or BiOp. It was created by collaboration of federal agencies, states and tribes during the administration of President Obama to protect salmon while operating hydropower dams.
But U.S. District Judge Michael Simon in Portland has twice issued rulings that override the BiOp, finding it does not do enough to protect salmon.
Without Snake and Columbia river dams and the many benefits they provide, life in Central Washington as we know it would be unrecognizable.
He has ordered a new environmental study to look at options, including the pros and cons of breaching or tearing down the Snake River dams from Ice Harbor Dam near Burbank upriver to Lower Granite Dam.
He also ordered that more water be spilled over the Snake River dams than the amount established by the BiOp to see if it would help young salmon migrating to the ocean.
Water that is spilled cannot be used to produce electricity. Northwest residents can expect to pay $40 million more for electricity because of the increased spill on Snake and Columbia River dams this month through mid-June, and for each spring the increased spill continues.
“Without Snake and Columbia River dams and the many benefits they provide, life in Central Washington as we know it would be unrecognizable,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., after the committee hearing. He is a sponsor of the bipartisan bill, which was authored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.
“I represent communities that actually live with the consequences of forced increased spill or potentially breaching dams, whether through higher electricity rates, higher transportation costs, reduced access to irrigation water, reduced flood control and more,” Newhouse said.
Grijalva said the bill is an attack on the Endangered Species Act and would double down on the status quo of modest hydropower mitigation efforts. They have cost billions of dollars without recovering any of the 13 populations of fish at risk, he said.
Grijalva proposed an amendment to the bill that would require tribal resources be protected and require meaningful consultation by federal agencies with the tribes.
But Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, said there was extensive tribal consultation during the development of the BiOp. The amendment would provide more grounds on which to litigate against the BiOp, he said.
“The point is to take a timeout on litigation,” he said.
The amendment failed 23-17, a tally identical to the final vote in favor of the bill.
Among those opposing the amendment was Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., who said the BiOp has resulted in improved salmon survival at the dams due to changes in operations and new fish passage technologies.


Dedication and commitments of Imran Khan to root out corruption, transparency and accountability and other social evils from the country has been widely acclaimed by the masses during his election campaign. He has reprimanded corrupt bigwigs, who amassed huge national wealth by using unfair means and abusing their powers, would be dealt with iron hands and exemplary punishment should be awarded to this mafia.
Supreme Court of Pakistan, played a quintessential role, solidifying rhetoric of Khan. Infinitesimal corrupt bigwigs are in jail whilst prodigious are in the queue. Khan's dedicated and committed vigor proved true for curbing all forms of social evils during election campaign due to dedicated and committed work of apex court and National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Confronting the corrupt mafia was an outcry of joy. But solely entombing and immuring Nawaz and Zardari and their entourage for their wrongdoings won’t help curb the prevailing corruption and social evils. Great populace of poor and literate youth praised Khan, for his vehemence of transparency and accountability.
By looking into the political history of Pakistan, the trifling links between government and the governed are scrawny; and lack of far-reaching public discourse about key socio-economic and political bugbears aggravate public trust and confidence in the government institutions. This is the dilemma of democratic government in Pakistan to include citizen’s voices in key socio-economics policy formulations. This specific strata of populace envisioned their less heard voices will have access to policy spaces and/or platforms with the potential to amplify their voices and influence legislation. Overture to participatory democracy and government by the people in Khan’s government. It’s also none other than Khan, who has strengthened the capacity of masses to hold the past government to account. The fad of transparency and accountability will be vitiated, once participation and civic voices are unheard in his own government.
Khan, although tyro on the affairs of state yet more pragmatic than his previous counterparts, can establish the missing link between the government and the governed. An effective and responsive legislature is the bedrock of accountable governance. Due to repeated military interventions by abrogating the constitution, legislative bodies have poor performances. Legislative bodies must better serve as bridges between the state institutions and society by representing their constituents and carrying out pro-people legislation. The legislature is also crucial for executive oversight to ensure executive agencies protect citizens’ rights and freedom and provide improved, equitable delivery of quality public services. This function is especially important today in light of the devolution of key public functions under the 18th Amendment. Civil society organizations can play an important role in terms of public awareness and knowledge promotion about the roles and functions of legislators and legislatures.
Furthermore, they can identify, develop and implement tools and mechanisms for effective public oversight, advocacy and accountability through constituency-based initiatives. Such initiatives may involve organization of public dialogues, promotion of citizens’ access to information, analysis of legislators’ performance, expert information, and initiatives aimed at public accountability of legislators. Over time, a more consistent interface and engagement between legislators and citizens will also help strengthen citizens’ voice to inform and influence key decisions of the legislature.
Unfortunately, due to outdated and inadequate laws (e.g. Trust Act 1882 and Societies Act 1860), under which civil societies organizations are registered, are in dire need of reforms. Civil society organizations can play consequential role in strengthening civic voices to hold government to account but they can’t due to the fear of arbitrary interference by the government. It is largely because many of these laws were enacted either by the colonial or military governments [e.g. Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control Ordinance) 1961 and Companies Ordinance 1984] without taking into consideration the needs and requirements of civil society sector as it exists and continues to evolve.


Make the most of the sunshine and D.C. views with these picnic recipes.
Add olives, cucumber, tomatoes and red onion to the cooled quinoa, and squeeze 1/2 lemon over mixture. Add salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste. Drizzle the olive oil over the quinoa, add feta and toss well.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray a muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together the Nutella and eggs. Add the flour and whisk until blended. Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin pan (about 1/2 full for regular pan and 3/4 full for mini pan) and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, just until the tops have set and cracked around the edges. A toothpick in the center should come out wet and fudgy. Let cool completely.
Place ice cubes in a small thermos or water bottle. Top with pineapple-orange juice, rum, grenadine and cherries. Garnish with pineapple or orange slices if desired.
Add the frozen concentrate into a large pitcher or thermos. Add beer and vodka and stir until frozen concentrate is completely dissolved. Pour mixture in individual glasses and top with fresh raspberries. Garnish if desired with lemon wedges or additional raspberries.


The Twin Valley Raiders took on the Donegal Indians in the Class 2A field hockey semifinal Nov. 13, 2018. Donegal defeated Twin Valley 2-0.
Twin Valley's head coach Kim Walsh comforts Mikenna Allen.
Twin Valley's Hannah Strausser, left, comforts Natali Foster.
Twin Valley's Makayla Carahaly looks to get the ball from Donegal's Lydia Miller.
Twin Valley's Natali Foster looks to pass the ball.
Twin Valley's Mikenna Allen brings the ball up the field.
Twin Valley's Carlie Servis looks to pass the ball.
Donegal's Lily Saunders looks to get the ball from Twin Valley's Natali Foster.
Twin Valley's Natali Foster looks to keep the ball from Donegal's Cayla Homsher.
Donegal's Cayla Homsher hits the ball away from Twin Valley's Morgan Lennon.
Twin Valley's Talayna Viscuso just misses the ball.
Twin Valley's Natali Foster brings the ball up the field.


Eighteen asylum seekers being held by Australia on the Pacific island of Nauru have been taken to hospital as their hunger strike entered its nineteenth day.
A further 27 detainees are still refusing food and water, officials said on Monday.
Four of the hunger strikers have sewn their mouths shut.
"The number of people refusing food is 45. All are adult males."
The hunger strikers, Afghans and Pakistanis, are protesting against the rejection of their refugee claims by Australia.
"Pacific Solution" to deter the arrival of boat people.
policy against asylum seekers arriving by boat.
Human rights group Amnesty International has called for the government to close down the camp because it claims detainees are denied basic human rights and living standards.
visas in guarded camps while their cases are handled - a process which can take years.
immigration centres, which are currently housing about 1200 people.


Data can be found, processed and managed on the cloud without an investment in local hardware infrastructure, but what does that mean to information trust and governance? Cloud-based aspects of environment may develop rapidly; however, IT must plan for data integration and security and ensure it “owns” the information. This white paper looks at the four key pillars of information governance on the cloud.