own began. "Avon," Cally sighed. She wanted to feel his arms around her, wanted his body pressed against hers; but she was afraid. She remembered what happened the last time; his involuntary sense of repulsion and fear when she touched him. She hoped that the kiss meant he was ready, but she knew it was wishful thinking.

Avon pulled back and looked at her. "What's wrong?" There was uncertainty in his eyes. He had acted on a natural instinct but he was never one to trust instinct. "I thought it was what you wanted."

"Yes. It is, Avon. Very much."

"Then what's wrong?"

"I'm starting to think that you might have some psi ability after all," she said wryly.

"Don't do that, Cally. Tell me what's troubling you."

"You."

"Well, that's an old topic, isn'ton," Avon turned back to her. There was earnestness in his eyes. "I wanted this. I want you to know that."

"Yes, I know, Avon."

"Where do we go from here?" he asked.

"Are you alright?" she asked him.

"Is that a description that applies to me, even at the best of times?" he said in a self-mocking tone.

He had said this many times since being rescued from Servalan,and each time she hated to hear it.

"You will be fine, Avon. You have to be." She said it so vehemently that Avon was taken aback. It disturbed him that she was so upset. He didn't want her to be distressed over him.

He put his hand under her chin and tilted her head up to face him. "Don't worry, Cally. I'm not worth it."

"Yes,


continued in my cabin?"

"I thought you would never ask," said Avon. He took her by the hand and they left the teleport room together.

I'm glad Allren and Ture have got a safe home. I just couldn't see them adjusting to the discipline of crewing a ship, Vila causes enough problems for the rest of them.

I noticed you had Vila having flashbacks (or something) in this story, without going back to check, wasn't there some mention in a very early chapter of the first sequence of his memories of GP being adjusted before he escaped. Was that ever resolved? Is this the same thing recurring? Oooo, on to the next episode.

Vila having flashbacks ...wasn't there some mention in a very early chapter of the first sequence of his memoriesin peoples’ pockets; people spend, consume goods, factories get running, more jobs are created, and the same virtuous cycle out of the slowdown is formed. I prefer the second way because it creates assets. Budget 2020 promises investment in roads, waterways, pipelines for drinking water, housing, hospitals, etc – a total of Rs 103 lakh crore investment in infrastructure.

Also read: Why Narendra Modi has taken the big and the bang out of the Budget

An opportunity wasted

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would have done herself a favour, however, by admitting at the outset that the Indian economy was in a crisis, and then explaining how she planned to get us out of it. She has budgeted many fine job-creating initiatives and she would have lifted our spirits had she given


a Song

If you saw the performance from Melodi Grand Prix then there will be nothing to surprise you here, but Rybak still has his natural stage charisma which I’m sure will charm the audience onto his side. The stage is lit in flashing pink and blue hues. On his second run there are some in-ear and camerawork problems but on the whole the performance is a strong one once the crew iron out the kinks. Some additional heart graphics appear on stage during the bridge of the song and the final run sees the addition of sporadic fireworks and sparks at the song’s key moments. I feel like some of the intimate feel of the national final has been lost on the big Lisbon stage however.

ROMANIA – TheSerbia winds up with a jury score of 63 points. Now how will that prepare them for the ‘televote’ result? We shall see!

Here are the latest standings…

Israel – Netta – Toy (157)

France – Madame Monsieur – Mercy (153)

Bulgaria – Equinox – Bones (153)

(FYR) Macedonia – Eye Cue – Lost and Found (153)

Portugal – Cláudia Pascoal – O jardim (144)

Finland – Saara Aalto – Monsters (142)

Cyprus – Eleni Foureira – Fuego (130)

Switzerland – Zibbz – Stones (129)

Romania – The Humans – Goodbye (127)

Czech Republic – Mikolas Josef – Lie to Me (120)

Germany – Michael Schulte – You Let Me Walk Alone (120)

Azerbaijan – Aisel – X My Heart (116)

Albania – Eugent Bushpepa – Mall (115)

Croatia – Franka – Crazy (113)

Spain – Alfred & Amaia – Tu canción (112)

Malta –


a backing vocalist at Eurovision on three occasions, and this will also be her third participation in the Serbian national final. She also participated in a singing show similar to The Voice, where she got praised from Jennifer Hudson for her performance of her song “One Night Only.” This coming Tuesday, Saška will do her best at Beovizija with her amazing voice, performing Pesma za tebe (Song for you).

Could you tell us who is Saška Janx in just two short sentences?

– Saška is, like someone would say, an amazing dude, an empath and someone who is looking forward to living the life. She is someone who likes art and showbiz almost equally, every positive vibe, creativity, good approach and of course animals.

What were your first thoughts when youassigned one VHF license. This is because what became of the market was sandwiched between Evansville (channel 7, later joined by 9) and Louisville (channels 3 and 11) to the north, Nashville (channels 2, 4, 5, and 8) and Jackson (channels 7 and 11) to the south, Cape Girardeau/Paducah (channels 3, 6, 8, and 12) to the west, and Lexington (a UHF island) and Knoxville (channels 6 and 10, later joined by 8) to the east. While Bowling Green relied upon Nashville affiliates for network service, WLTV was the only commercial television station in the market until WQQB signed on in December 1989.

On March 6, 1967, WLTV became affiliated with ABC and since then has aired all of its shows, with the exception of season one of NYPD


the station has remained the dominant outlet for south central Kentucky. However, it has also competed with Nashville stations transmitting rimshot signals into parts of the Bowling Green area. WBKO's first newscasts were branded as Channel 13 News Report and began airing in 1963. In the 1970s, the news operation was known as 13 News. The broadcasts were re-branded to WBKO 13 News.

As the area's original Fox affiliate in the mid-1990s, WNKY established its own news department. Unable to gain consistent viewership and ratings against WBKO, that station's short lived full news operation was eventually shut down. In the early 2000s, WNKY slowly re-entered the market with an unusual weather-only approach. Instead of full newscasts, it offers weekday morning and nightly local weather forecast cut-ins provided through AccuWeatherOctober".

"We need a clear statement from the prime minister that he is going to abide by that act of Parliament," Mr Corbyn said.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Protests were held across the UK and Europe on Saturday

Meanwhile, clashes erupted between pro-Brexit protesters and police in Parliament Square in London.

Several hundred people joined pro and anti-Brexit demonstrations in Westminster.

Pro-leave protesters were seen throwing a metal barricade at officers, while others tried to break the police cordon.

Anti-Brexit MP Anna Soubry, who leads the Independent Group for Change, said she had been due to speak at the March for Change rally in London but told organisers she was too frightened to do so, after consulting with police.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said officers made 16 arrests in connection with the


protests.

That included 13 arrests for violent disorder, one for possession of an offensive weapon, one for affray and one for a racially aggravated public order offence.

Some 35 other events were held across the UK and Europe, including a pro-democracy protest in Berlin.

'Dangerous precedent'

The Daily Telegraph reported that the prime minister said seeking another extension is "something I will never do", fuelling speculation that ministers could try to find a loophole.

But David Lidington, who resigned as Cabinet Office minister in July, in opposition to Mr Johnson's no-deal Brexit strategy, told the BBC's Today programme: "The government is bound by the words of any statute that has been duly enacted by the Queen in Parliament, which is a fundamental principle of our constitution and our ministerial code.

"Defying any law setsa really dangerous precedent."

He added that at a time when other countries were "holding up alternatives to the rule of law and democratic government" it was imperative that British governments always demonstrate they comply with the law.

Mr Lidington, who supported the government in voting for an early general election, urged Mr Johnson to "re-double [his] efforts" in talking to a "wide range" of European leaders to get a Brexit deal he can put before Parliament in October.

What are the PM's options?

Mr Johnson's options are "narrowing" after this week's Brexit defeats, says Dr Hannah White, deputy director of the Institute for Government.

Some possibilities being discussed are:

Ignore the law - Boris Johnson has said he "will not" carry out Parliament's instructions to seek an Article 50 extension, according to The


Sky News a refusal to delay Brexit in the face of court action "would amount to contempt of court which could find that person in prison".

One Tory MP said the idea of Mr Johnson ignoring the legislation was "nonsense".

Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, tweeted: "Even if it was under consideration, which I'm sure it's not, you would see a very significant number of Conservative MPs resigning the whip, including me."

A number of cabinet sources have told the BBC in recent days that they have significant concerns about Number 10's strategy.

It comes in the wake of a series of Parliamentary defeats for the government, beginning after Mr Johnson announced his decision to suspend Parliament for five weeks in September and October.

First, the prime minister lost control ofthe House of Commons agenda.

That allowed opposition MPs and rebel Tories to put forward the bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit, which Mr Johnson said "scuppered" his negotiations with the EU.

In response, the prime minister expelled 21 of his own MPs for rebelling against the government over the vote and then called for a general election.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Brexit: Five days in five minutes

But on Friday, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, SNP and Plaid Cymru jointly agreed to reject Mr Johnson's demand for a snap poll before the EU summit in mid-October.

The day before, the prime minister's younger brother, Jo Johnson, resigned as an MP and minister, saying he was "torn between family loyalty and the national interest".

According to the Daily Telegraph, Mr


ATLANTA — Light snow was falling when Samantha Avers left Duluth, a northeast Atlanta suburb, on Tuesday afternoon. She figured she would be home quickly, for it was only a 30- to 45-minute drive.

Twenty-two hours later, Avers, an account manager who had just moved to balmy Atlanta from northern Virginia, wearily parked in her Smyrna neighborhood Wednesday morning. She had been stranded in hellish snowstorm traffic, napped in her car in the middle of a freeway, eaten fruit from her Superman lunch box, watched “Private Practice” on her iPad and drank a gas station beer from a coffee cup.

Hers was just one of the horror stories from the great Atlanta snow-out of 2014.

Forecasters had warned of a freak Southern snowstorm, but schools and offices remained open Tuesday. Masschaos and gridlock ensued when offices closed early and an exodus of midday commuters headed home.

Less than 3 inches of snow brought the city to a freezing halt. Children camped out in schools or on buses. Hundreds of motorists were marooned for hours on highways and onramps; some abandoned their cars and walked home through the snow. Workers spent the night in their offices.

One woman delivered a baby inside a car stuck on a frozen highway, aided by her husband and a police officer. She named the girl Grace.

Georgia National Guard troops delivered military meals and water to stranded motorists. Other troops and police rescued children from schools and delivered them to firehouses and other sanctuaries. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal said all students made it home safely by


y’all would have all been in here saying, ‘Well, you know how many millions of dollars you cost the economy and the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia by shutting down businesses?’”

Indeed, a few parents in central North Carolina complained after schools were closed all day Tuesday in anticipation of snow that was not predicted to fall until evening. Less than an inch fell in Durham. School officials said they had erred on the side of caution.

In Atlanta, there were tales of perseverance. Karen Lewis, 42, left her law offices in midtown Atlanta at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to drive home to Roswell, about 20 miles north. Nearly 14 hours later, she arrived home — at 2 a.m.

Stuck in her car for hours, she passed time surfingspent the night. He had plenty of company — at least 100 stranded travelers.

The gas station mini-mart stayed open, so Partee ate a doughnut for dinner and a hot dog for breakfast. To stay warm, he cranked up the heater in his van.

“Ran that rascal all night long,” he said.

It was a similar story in Birmingham, Ala. Nathan Marcus, 53, grew up there, left for school, then came back in 1984. He has seen big snowstorms hit the South before, like the 1993 storm that dumped 13 inches on Birmingham. But what he saw Tuesday shocked him.

“There’s this one part of the highway, in a mile stretch, there had to be 500 cars abandoned,” Marcus, an insurance agent, said Wednesday. “People ran out of gas. Tired of sitting


also known as Daesh, in exchange for a cut of their profits. Equipped with these documents, looters could trawl sites such as Mari or nearby Dura Europos with bulldozers in search of artifacts to smuggle to Turkey.

“Last month we received these documents (that say) ‘State of Daesh’, the Department for Archeology gives this person the permission to do whatever excavation he wants at this site,” Abdulkarim said.

Looting began on a large scale in 2013, and nothing has changed on the ground since a United Nations resolution protecting Syrian and Iraqi heritage sites passed in February, he said.

“We need European countries, the United States, Japan (and others) to convince those who buy our artifacts to refuse them,” Abdulkarim said.

Buyers of such objects live in Britain, the United States, Arabbeach, beaches are also found by lakes and alongside large rivers.

Beach may refer to:
 small systems where rock material moves onshore, offshore, or alongshore by the forces of waves and currents; or
 geological units of considerable size.

The former are described in detail below; the larger geological units are discussed elsewhere under bars.

There are several conspicuous parts to a beach that relate to the processes that form and shape it. The part mostly above water (depending upon tide), and more or less actively influenced by the waves at some point in the tide, is termed the beach berm. The berm is the deposit of material comprising the active shoreline. The berm has a crest (top) and a face—the latter being the slope leading down towards the water from the


America’s last prisoner of war in Afghanistan remains in captivity as his parents go public with a plea for his return. The Obama administration is still silent.

On June 30, 26-year-old Idahoan Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will celebrate an important anniversary: his third year in captivity as an American prisoner of war.

Bergdahl has not enjoyed the household-name status of former POW Jessica Lynch, who was rescued to fanfare scarcely a month after her March 23, 2003 capture in Iraq, and still enjoys some celebrity as a motivational speaker. To advocacy organizations and to Bergdahl’s parents, it seems that his people and his government have forgotten him.

A spokesman for U.S. Central Command, John Wagner, said that Bergdahl is still believed to be held by the Haqqani network, a Taliban-affiliated insurgentWatchESPN, WatchABC, and WatchDisneyChannel.

Other networks from Disney, including WATCH Disney Junior, SEC ESPN Network and Longhorn Network will arrive for Dish subscribers later in the year.

DISH customers can now conveniently watch live programming from ABC Family, Disney Channel and Disney XD as well as live network streams of ABC, which are currently available in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Fresno, Philadelphia and Raleigh-Durham. Additionally, live events and programming from ESPN networks – including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes – are now accessible. ESPN Goal Line and ESPN Buzzer Beater will also be available on WatchESPN when those channels are in season. Video subscribers will need to log in with their DISH online IDs and passwords to access all services. In addition to


live streaming, DISH video subscribers can watch the most current episodes of ABC and ABC Family original series the day after they air online at ABC.com and ABCFamily.com or on smartphones and tablets via the WATCH ABC and WATCH ABC Family apps, which are available free to download in the App Store, Google Play Store, Amazon Appstore and Windows Store. WATCH ABC is also accessible on Apple TV. DISH customers can access live and popular on-demand programming from Disney Channel and Disney XD online at WATCHDisneyChannel.com and WATCHDisneyXD.com. The WATCH Disney Channel and WATCH Disney XD apps are free to download in the App Store and Amazon Appstore. The networks are also accessible on Apple TV and Roku. For WatchESPN, DISH video subscribers can visit WatchESPN.com on theirafter 7 p.m. Friday, the fire was 40 percent contained and had burned roughly 700 acres, according to the Cal Fire Butte County unit, which cited a “significant augmentation of resources.”

@ChicoFD on scene of a 35+ acres on south side of upper Bidwell Park. Crews can not yet access the fire with apparatus. pic.twitter.com/hHKL6drsue — Chico Fire Department (@ChicoFD) July 13, 2018

Precautionary evacuation warnings were recommended for residents living along Whispering Winds Lane and Shadowtree Lane on the south side of the large city park, officials said, but those warnings were lifted later in the day.

Fire crews were initially unable to reach the fire due to steep terrain in the Canyon Oaks area.

Meanwhile, firefighters continued to control several other large fires burning in Northern California.

The Klamathon Fire, which


started July 5 in Siskiyou County and burned from California into Oregon over the past week, was 85 percent contained Friday night at 37,900 acres, according to Cal Fire.

The blaze is believed to have killed one person and injured three firefighters.

The body of John Karl Bermel, 72, of Hornbrook, was found July 6. It took investigators almost a week to identify him due to the state of his remains. Investigators are conducting a toxicology report to confirm the cause of death was indeed related to the fire, which officials said should be fully under control by Sunday.

More than 300 structures remain at risk, and 82 have been destroyed.

The County Fire in Yolo and Napa counties — the largest active wildfire in the state — has burned 90,288 acres.The position of left back has long been the Achilles Heel of the US national team but Edgar Castillo is hoping for a solid effort in the upcoming friendlies to give the team a major boost moving forward.

Castillo, 24, is now back with US team for the third time in his career but unlike the two previous occasions, he will have the benefit of playing in a full camp to fit into the team.

"I am really happy to be called up again," Castillo told YA. "I've been called up twice before and the first time was a few years ago under Bob Bradley and I only played 30 minutes. Last month I got to play the full 90 and I am really excited to be back."

Like most of


the players on the US team, Castillo is getting used to the coaching style of Jurgen Klinsmann who replaced Bob Bradley as coach in August. Castillo has so far been impressed initially by Klinsmann's relaxed approach.

When he was the coach of the German national team in 2006, Klinsmann earned the reputation as an offensive-minded coach that emphasized creativity. Castillo has found this to be true last month when he was encouraged to move forward into attack.

"He's a nice guy. He lets you play," Castillo stated. "He tells you what to do but he doesn't put pressure on you. Under him you are relaxed to play. He's a good coach. It's a different approach to the game than under Bob Bradley. Klinsmann was a great player and now asa coach he can teach you all the stuff he learned as a player. He knows what players think."

Castillo's game against Mexico last month in Klinsmann's debut was generally an uneven performance. In the first half, Castillo made noticeable mistakes with turnovers but he improved in the second half as the US team rallied for a 1-1 draw.

Castillo freely admits he was nervous on the occasion. The game had added meaning for him on two important and personal levels. On one hand, it was his first ever start for the United States and, second, it was a game against Mexico.

Castillo was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico to Mexican-born parents. As a young player, Castillo played for Mexico and he even started for El Tri's U-23 Olympic qualifying


team in 2008. In 2009, he used his one-time switch to play for the United States.

Now playing for one of the biggest club's in Mexico at Club America, Castillo is still has many friends on the Mexican national team. It was a difficult experience for his first US start to come against a national team he once played for.

"I was a little nervous, to tell you the truth. I was nervous because it was my first US start and nervous because we were playing Mexico," Castillo admitted. "I played for Mexico in the past. I was nervous but as the game went on, the nerves went away."

Now with the US prepared to face Costa Rica and Belgium in the next few days, Castillo is excited and prepared.

"I thinkI'll still be a little bit nervous," Castillo discussed. "I'm always a little nervous but I'm also going to be excited. I am ready. Even if I don't play, I'll be happy to be there with the team."

Castillo has worked his way back into the US national team picture largely because of his recent play at Club American where he is the team's starting left back.

Castillo began his career with Santos Laguna and was a starter for the team that won the Mexican title in 2008. His solid play at Santos earned him a transfer to Club America in 2009.

Shortly after joining Club America his fortunes changed as he was set out on loan three consecutive times. He was first loaned to Tigres, then to San Luis, and


finally to Puebla. With each passing loan he was earning fewer and fewer minutes.

During this past summer, however, his career has been rejuvenated in his return to Club America. Since the start of preseason, he has earned the trust of head coach Carlos Reinoso.

Looking back on the ups and downs of the recent years, Castillo is confident in his believe that the multiple loans have helped him as it has given him a new perspective on his career.

"It helped me," Castillo said of the three loans. "I've been all over the place. At San Luis I only played in [a few] games. At Puebla I played the first few games then I didn't even make the bench. But it all makes you think better and realize you belongGiant verrucous porokeratosis of Mibelli mimicking psoriasis in a patient with psoriasis.
Porokeratosis of Mibelli is a disorder of epidermal keratinization characterized by annular plaques with an atrophic center surrounded by a keratotic wall. We report a case of a giant verrucous porokeratosis of Mibelli mimicking psoriasis that developed in a patient with psoriasis and therefore went unrecognized for a long time. Histologically the lesion combined features of porokeratosis at the periphery and of psoriasis at its center, a picture recently described as "psoriasis encircled by porokeratosis." The possible pathogenetic relationship between psoriasis and the development of porokeratosis is also discussed.


Hepatitis A has claimed yet another life as San Diego city and county officials scramble for solutions amid an uncontrolled outbreak that has now killed 16, and infected just over 400 people.

According to the San Diego Union Tribune, Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced a new plan Wednesday that includes erecting massive industrial tents complete with “beds, showers, restroom and hand washing stations:”

“We are in a crisis that calls for action,” Faulconer said in a morning press conference in a parking lot at 14th and Commercial streets downtown, one of the three tent sites. The tents can hold at least 100 people and up to 250. A second downtown tent operated by the Alpha Project is planned for a vacated street at 16th Street and Newton Avenue, and a thirdof the expansion space of the cylinder, during simultaneous cooling to decrease necessary technical compression work. Condensation water from the compressed air accumulator may be used for internal cooling by water injection during compression. Compression may be done at the lower side of the piston at the same time as expansion occurs at the upper side of the piston, or in a compressor operated by the engine. In, for example, a six cylinder engine three cylinders can be used as compressors.
In internal combustion engine, driven vehicles the speed to a large extent will be reduced by engine braking, compressing air into the accumulator tank. This means that stored energy can be used at acceleration by expansion of compressed air, by charging the engine at higher pressure or by


from their in-house origins of the pre-war era to the renowned couturiers and their fashion ateliers which created and produced extraordinary collections for airlines during the 1950s, to the contemporary styles of today. From the influences of Paris, New York, and Hollywood, jet-set chic has inspired the designers to keep the airline fashions trendy and appealing to millions of travelers throughout the world.

Over thirty designers and fashion houses are represented in the exhibition. These include Cristóbal Balenciaga, Pierre Balmain, Bill Blass, Pierre Cardin, Oleg Cassini, Christian Dior, Halston, Christian Lacroix, Ralph Lauren, Hanae Mori, Emilio Pucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Vivienne Westwood.

Their long list of clients includes Aeroméxico, Air France, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Pan American World Airways, United Airlines, and Virginavailable by lenders including Aeroméxico, Air France, American Airlines C. R. Smith Museum, Delta Flight Museum, Flight Path Learning Center & Museum, Frontiers of Flight Museum LAX, The Museum of Flight, NWA History Centre, Qantas Heritage Collection, The University of Texas at Dallas, United Airlines Archive, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and other private sources.

Next time you fly out of the San Francisco International Terminal, spend some enriching quality time viewing the SFO Museum’s historic Fashion In Flight exhibit, on view from June 16, 2016 to January 8, 2017, as well as the many other impressive and interesting exhibits that the SFO Museum curates on a regular basis. The exhibits are displayed at the pre-security area of the International Terminal Main Hall and Aviation Museum & Library.

The Aviation Museum and


Library are open from 10:00 a. m. to 4:30 p. m. daily, closed holidays and during special events.

The Main Hall galleries are always open. For more information visit www.sfomuseum.org or call 650–821–6700. Admission is free.

Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, with no borsch or piroshky on her home cooking menu. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out, mostly sushi.

By Lina BroydoMedia playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Glenn Greenwald discussed the impact of the revelations on BBC Newsnight

Glenn Greenwald, a journalist who covered data leaked by US whistleblower Edward Snowden, has announced he is leaving Britain's Guardian newspaper.

Mr Greenwald said he was departing to take up a "dream" opportunity.

Documents from Mr Snowden, a former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, revealed internet and phone surveillance by US intelligence.

Brazil, where Mr Greenwald lives, says it wants to speak to Mr Snowden over allegations the US spied on it.

According to information leaked by Mr Snowden, the NSA intercepted communications by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and monitored millions of emails and phone calls by the country's citizens.

As a result, Ms Rousseff cancelled a planned visit to the US.

Jose Alberto Freitas,


the head of intelligence in Brazil's police force, said it was "crucial" to speak to Edward Snowden, as he could "provide technical details that will help our investigation advance".

Mr Snowden, who is wanted by the US on espionage charges, is currently living in Russia, having been granted asylum by Moscow.

'Crucial role'

In a statement posted online, Mr Greenwald described his "partnership with the Guardian" as "extremely fruitful and fulfilling" and praised the editors and journalists of the newspaper.

He said his new venture was "momentous" but he was not yet able to give any details about it.

He told online news site Buzzfeed he would be involved in a "new, large-scale... media outlet".

The Guardian's Jennifer Lindauer said: "Glenn Greenwald is a remarkable journalist and it has been fantastic working with him.

"OurPARIS (Reuters) - The Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OECD) has proposed overhauling rules for taxing cross-border corporate income to bring them into line with the digital age.

FILE PHOTO: United States one dollar bills are seen on a light table at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington November 14, 2014. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

Finance ministers from the Group of 20 biggest economies are due to discuss the proposals at their next meeting on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank meetings on Oct. 17.

Then negotiations will begin among the 134 countries that have backed the principle of new rules with the aim of reaching a deal next year.

That would require a broad consensus, which limits scope for single countries or tax havens to block a deal. While most countries and


broad support emerges there, the OECD will launch negotiations among the 134 countries that have indicated they are in favor of rewriting the current rules.

The OECD wants to have a blueprint agreement ready in January and a more detailed agreement in June for a final deal by the end of 2020.

At some point in the process, a second track aimed at agreeing a minimum international tax rate is to also join the process.Second Amended Complaint is dismissed in its entirety.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Relevant Procedural History

On November 9, 2005, Plaintiff filed this action against Albany County Correctional Facility ("ACCF") and five individuals employed by Albany County. On July 13, 2007, Plaintiff amended his Complaint for the second time. (Dkt. No. 27.) Generally, in his Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiff claims that Defendants violated his rights under the First, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments by failing to provide him on a regular basis with a vegetarian diet which, he maintains, was necessitated by both an allergy to certain foods and his genuinely held religious beliefs. (Id.) More specifically, Plaintiff alleges that this failure (1) infringed upon his right to freely exercise his chosen religion, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,


made no reference to any special/vegetarian diet.*fn6 However, on July 8, 2005, Plaintiff submitted a third Health Services Request Form that did indicate that he was a vegetarian, in addition to being allergic to meat and eggs.*fn7 On that same day, the medical department wrote an order for Plaintiff to receive a vegetarian diet.*fn8

On July 20, 2005, Plaintiff submitted a letter to Defendant Rockwell at ISU, in which he complained that it took "years" for him to get his food.*fn9 On July 29, 2005, Plaintiff submitted a letter to ISU, indicating that he was not receiving the proper meals, even though the medical department had indicated that he was a vegetarian.*fn10 On that same day, ISU provided the letter to the kitchen supervisor and to the medical department.making rounds."*fn14

As a result, Plaintiff submitted a Health Services Request Form to the medical department on August 20, 2005.*fn15 In this Health Services Request Form, Plaintiff indicated that the "wrong meal" was being sent to him. The form was reviewed by the medical department on August 22, 2005. Defendant Cooper noted on the form that, according to the department's records, Plaintiff had already been placed on a vegetarian diet since August 5, 2005.*fn16 However, according to Plaintiff, even after submitting a grievance on August 20, 2005, regarding the receipt of the wrong meals, he "continued to have problems receiving, and quality of his meals."*fn17

In early September 2005, Plaintiff submitted a Health Services Request Form complaining of skin irritation on his face and arm.*fn18 The form did not mention


any allergy, or problems with his vegetarian/special diet. After receiving the form, the medical department saw Plaintiff and gave him ointment for an acne breakout.

On October 13, 2005, Plaintiff submitted another Health Services Request Form regarding a problem with urinating.*fn19 The form made no mention of any allergy, or problems with his vegetarian/special diet. On October 14, 2005, Plaintiff was seen for this complaint.

According to Plaintiff, "[o]n October 20, 2005, [he] received a 'supposed' vegetarian meal" that was actually "badly burnt eggs and pears."*fn20

In addition, attached as an exhibit to his unsworn opposition memorandum of law, Plaintiff has provided the Court with a calendar, in which he has circled 72 days between June 29, 2005, and October 20, 2005, on which he asserts he either (1) "miss[ed]" aMichael Jackson’s Doctor to Be Indicted

The doctor who treated Michael Jackson in his final hours is said to be facing an indictment on involuntary manslaughter charges, for the music icon's death. Dr. Conrad Murray treated Jackson the night before his death with a lethal injection of the anesthesia propofal, among other drugs, before finding him unresponsive the next morning. Although the L.A. District Attorney's office has yet to reach a final decision, a source claims that prosecutors are pinpointing Dr. Murray's gross negligence as the main cause of Jackson's passing. "We don't have a case. It hasn't been presented," said Janice Robinson, a spokesperson for the D.A.'s office. "Don't know when we'll get it."

Murray's lawyer Michael Flanagan stated that his client was not in any violation of the


law when he treated Jackson, which would make it "very difficult" for the D.A. to build an involuntary manslaughter case against him.

Following a toxicology test performed on Jackson's body, the coroner ruled his death a homicide caused by acute intoxication of the drug, used to suspend breathing. The intravenous drug decreases a patient's heart rate and is therefore to be administered in a hospital and by an anesthesiologist in case of any complications. Murray, who is a cardiologist, injected Jackson with the drug in his Los Angeles home. Following the King of Pop's death the doctor went into hiding and has faced scrutiny, most notably from Jackson's family, for what they feel is his roll in the incident. "He was the one that was administering," Janet Jackson saidILCC Soccer Coach Co-Coach of the Year

November 9, 2018

Iowa Lakes Men's Soccer Head Coach Ben MacRae was awarded Region XI Coach of the Year Honors for the 2018 season; making this the 2nd time Macrae has earned this honor in the last five years. He shares this year's award with Marshalltown Head Coach, Rafael Martinez.

"I am honored to receive this award, and couldn't have done it without the excellent support from my assistant coach/ co-coach Kevin Nolan and our outstanding team. The award shows how far we have come this year and shows how much work our staff and players put into the season. I also want to congratulate Rafa on his success and wish him and his team luck for their next game," said MacRae.

The Lakers tied


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The suit also saidAustralia, NZ defence ties sound: Smith

DEFENCE Minister Stephen Smith says formal talks with his New Zealand counterpart have proved fruitful, showing the bilateral defence relationship between the nations is in good shape.

New Zealand Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman met Mr Smith in Perth on Friday for their first formal discussions since the countries signed a Defence Relationship Review in January, although it was their fourth meeting this year.

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"It's very good for general co-operation, it's very


narcotics" Officer W.L. Stokes acted as "security for two female officers [in "plain clothes"] who ... were making sales of imitation cocaine to people who walked up or drove up in the area." The undercover officers were equipped with hidden communication devices and, following each transaction, notified an "apprehension team," assembled in the laundromat office of a nearby apartment building, to arrest the purchaser. The office, located "just inside the doorway" of the building, opened directly into a foyer, which also accessed two occupied apartments.
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He is a founding member of NABS, the National Advertising Benevolent Society, which looks after the well-being


The mysterious disease behind Christina's World, a painting that became an icon of American art, has finally been determined, experts announced on Friday at the 23nd annual Historical Clinicopathological Conference in Baltimore.

Hanging in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Andrew Wyeth's artwork depicts the artist's real-life neighbor, Christina Olson. Wyeth was inspired to paint Christina's World after watching her crawl across a field from his window.

It turns out the young woman suffered from an inherited neurological disorder affecting both motor and sensory nerves.

In the painting Christina's legs are bent at an odd angle underneath her body.

"The limbs, particularly the arms, are very thin," Marc Patterson, a professor of neurology, pediatrics and medical genetics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., told Discovery News.

After reviewing Christina Olson'sclinical history and studying Wyeth's portrait, Patterson came to the conclusion she suffered from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an inherited disorder caused by mutations that produce defects in neuronal proteins. The disease damages the nerves and affects movement.

Olson presented weakness in her ankles in early childhood. The weakness progressed inexorably - by the time she was 26, she lost the use of her hands and could walk only three or four steps without assistance.

Christina was evaluated at the Boston City Hospital, but tests failed to produce a diagnosis. She was simply told "to just go on living as (she) had always done."

In her late 50s, Christina lost the ability to stand and resorted to crawling to get where she wanted to go.

He noted that some authors suggested that the diagnosis


restorations had covered with a yellow varnish, re-emerged.
The painting depicts in an almost metaphysical way the biblical meeting of the Virgin Mary, pregnant with Jesus, and Elisabeth, pregnant with St. John the Baptist. Staring fixedly into space, two statuesque figures in the background represent their alter egos.A police officer has been suspended for a month after he was caught dancing naked in a nightclub while 'highly intoxicated'.

Cebron Hackett was off-duty when he was caught on camera at Discovery Nightclub in Little Rock, Arkansas, on October 13.

He has now been suspended without pay for 30 days and was ordered to complete remedial training.

Shocking video footage shows Hackett completely naked and dancing to Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.

He stumbles around the cleared dance floor while incredulous onlookers watch him fall into a table and get grabbed by a security guard.

Hackett then pushes the guard away before falling on to the floor. He is eventually dragged out of the club by two security guards.

Chief Jody Spradlin wrote in his letter of suspension that Hackett appeared to be


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I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Marilyn Rhames at an educational event in DC this past week. Marilyn has taught in district and charter schools in Chicago since 2004 & now serves as an alumni support manager at a K-8 charter school, helping graduates persist through high school and on to college and careers. Rhames authors a popular self-titled blog for Education Post. A 2016 Surge Institute fellow, Rhames is dedicated to promoting more diverse education leadership to improve the education of students of color. She was also a Teach Plus teaching policy fellow in Chicago from 2010 to 2012. In 2011, Rhames founded the Christian nonprofit Teachers Who Pray, which to date has more than 70 school chapters nationwide.

“Education is about not forgetting that you


start of the next year.

He said that despite the incomplete tournament, the PSL 2020 "achieved its target of showing the world that Pakistan is safe to stage major tournaments"

The knockout matches of PSL were scheduled to be played in Lahore today, however, the remaining matches including Wednesday’s final has been postponed now.

In the first semi-final Multan Sultans were set to face Peshawar Zalmi at 2pm at the Gaddafi Stadium, while Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars were set to face each other in the evening fixture.

READ: PCB postpones final leg of BD series over virus

The final of the tournament was rescheduled to be played tomorrow after the PCB moved the tournament up to March 18 from March 22.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket boards on Monday decided to postponeat the main house if you need anything." Adam bowed his head.

"Thank you. I appreciate it." Braylon hefted his black suitcase and made his way toward the guest cottage. When he entered, a sweet cinnamon fragrance assailed his nostrils. On the counter sat a plate full of assorted fruits, bagels, and huge cinnamon buns drizzled with white icing. If he didn't know any better he'd think that his grandmother, Willa Wexler, had enormous plans to spoil him during his stay.

This place is perfect. The two-bedroom cottage suited him. The family room was centered between the two bedrooms with a magnificent view of the river, and the huge sixty inch television mounted to the wall made him smile. I can't wait to watch football on that sucker. Too bad


goose bumps.

"Yes?" she said, turning. When her gaze met his, a tingle rushed to her center. Although she'd never had sex with a man before, Braylon's dominating presence pulled her to him like a powerful magnetic field, electrically charging her body. I have to stop this.

"Do you by any chance know where Adam is? I need to speak with him." His voice threatened to strike a fire inside her.

You're so good looking. "He's out front, trimming the hedges."

"Although you turned down my offer earlier, I hope you'll reconsider joining me. If you don't want to go out, maybe we can spend some time together right here on the estate."

"I think it's best if we don't—"

"I promise if you give me just a few minutes of your time," hisme if you ever leave me." With his elbow resting on the arm of his wheelchair, he curved a finger over his mustache. Ever since the car accident had left him paralyzed from the waist down he'd become very dependent on her, but she didn't mind doing whatever she could for him. She loved him. "Just breaks my heart thinking about it. You look every bit of your mother, my Sugar."

"Ahhh, Dad. Stop looking so sad." Ever since her mother had been murdered, Kane had become extremely overprotective of her and her brothers, but especially her. Her brothers felt their father sheltered her way too much. Often she had to remind them that she was fine with her life just the way it was. Besides, they had some


then caught it. "Don't worry. I won't listen to anything those idiots have to say!" He beamed with excitement. "I'm not going to be a Marine. I'm going to be a lawyer just like Drake Wexler!" He took off running down the street.

Kane slapped his thigh. "Hot damn...now we're talking!" Chortling, he slid the cigarette butt back between his chapped lips.

The mere mention of all this military stuff caused Braylon's name to linger around the edges of Sandella's mind. Turning blindly, she bumped into the door and stumbled.

"Watch out there now!" Kane's voice rose. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Dad. Just peachy keen." She straightened her stance. I'd be even better if you stopped criticizing Marines all the time. She opened the door and heard the timer on thecan go about reopening the case?"

You're damn right there is. "There's a loophole in everything. I'll see what I can do." My eyes and ears are going to be wide open when I start work on this criminal investigation.

"I'd appreciate anything you can do."

"Don't mention it. It's my job." Snuggling his cheek against the softness of her unruly hair, he kissed her tresses. I'm going to find out who killed your mother, baby. I damn sure am.

# Chapter Four

Sandella's hands curled around the steering wheel as she made her way across town toward her home in Beaufort. She glanced over at Royce, then returned her focus to the street. She lowered the visor to protect her vision from the orange glowing sun surrounded by hues of coral blues.


Royce is terrified of yelling."

Kane's bitter voice came out low as he spoke through clenched teeth. "Your brother can't be trusted."

Drew isn't disrespectful. This has to be a misunderstanding. Sandella tilted her head. "What did he do, Dad?"

Kane drew a cigarette from his shirt pocket and waved it at Sandella. "Nettie Mae called me. She told me that one of her cackling-mouth friends saw Drew over at Colonel Barton's house playing football in the goddamn backyard. I have told him over and over not to go inside any of those Marines' houses."

Hearing the malice for Marines in her father's voice sickened her. Sighing, her breath came out harsh. She rubbed her temples hoping she'd soothe away the dull pain in her head. I was with a Marine earliertoday too, was on the brink of spilling from her lips.

Braylon and I don't stand a freaking chance. "Dad, don't you think you're being a little hard on him?"

He held the lighter to the end of the cigarette. His brows gathered in the center of his forehead. His cheeks sucked inward as he inhaled and smoke spiraled from his brown lips. The cold stare in his round black eyes chilled her. "Your mother was killed by a Marine. For all I know Barton may be the damn killer," he said, lowering the cigarette to the ashtray on the table by the wall.

He has to stop with all this. "The Bartons seem like such a good family. From what I hear their sons are straight-A students like Drew. It's


on punishment for going over to Troy's house. Troy is a great dude. There's nothing wrong with him. Or his brother. Or his father and mother."

"Me either. Just so you know, I disagree with Dad."

"I can't wait to get out of this house. One more year, and I'm getting as far away from Beaufort as I possibly can. Just like Aric and Chandler went to college, I'm going, too. And like them, I'm never coming back."

She nodded.

"I'm glad you see things my way," Drew said.

"Dad is still grieving Mom. Don't be too hard on him."

"We all are still hurting over Momma. But we have to go on. We can't stop living our lives. She wouldn't want us to do that. Not even Dad."

"You're right, Drew. You're absolutely right."

Drewput the back of his hand to her forehead. "You feel extremely hot," he said, smoothing her bangs in with the rest of her hair on top of her head. "Where's the thermometer?"

Why was she so exhausted? she wondered, taking in the worried expression shadowing his face. "There's one in the kitchen cabinet next to the refrigerator inside the main house."

"I'll be right back." Braylon dashed out the front door to the main house, and quickly returned. "Let me take your temperature."

Sweat beaded on her forehead. When she tried to sit up, her attempt failed. "I felt bad earlier when I was visiting my dad, but now I feel awful."

Braylon swept the hair covering the side of her face behind her ear and took her temperature. He dropped


his face closer to hers. With his fingers to her chin, he turned her face away from his toward the pleated sheers. "One hundred and three degrees. And your neck is covered with red spots."

"It is?"

He grabbed the mirror off the dresser and handed it to her. "Take a look."

Sandella peeked into the mirror. A bumpy red rash covered the sides and back of her neck. To her knowledge she wasn't allergic to anything. I must've eaten something bad. "I have no clue what this is." Mustering what little strength she had, she shifted sideways and put her feet to the floor.

"You're in no shape to get out of bed."

"I need to take a look at the rest of my body."

Braylon's eyes glittered with amusement. "I can takea look for you if you like."

Even in her ill state she managed a curt smile. "No, thank you. I'll do it myself."

Holding her hand, he guided her to the bathroom. She placed a hand on the door frame. "No visitors allowed," she said, shutting the door in his face.

Standing in front of the mirror, Sandella gathered her shirt at the hem and removed it. She turned to look at her back. She gasped. Blisters were gathered on her back like a bad case of red leaking acne. "Oh my God!"

The door flung open. "What!" He gawked at her practically nude chest.

Her hands shot up to her breasts in an attempt to cover them and the black satin bra she was wearing. She felt blood gather in her


"I want to meet your father, Sandella."

She shook her head. "You can't. At least not yet. Maybe someday, but not right now." Because he wanted to meet her father, she questioned how far he planned to take things.

"I understand. But do me a favor and give it some thought. I'd rather meet him first than for him to hear about us in the streets."

Us. So there's an us? A part of her wanted to throw her arms around his neck. And the other part of her wanted to run and hide under a rock. Because getting involved with a Marine could bring about many problems for her. "You have a good point."

Braylon walked to the door, twisted the doorknob, then turned back to face her. "Have you everto start having sex earlier in the morning from now on.

The fall sun beat down on his nape as he climbed the steps of the building. He pulled the door open and gladly stepped inside. After three and a half weeks of relaxing, it sure felt good to finally start work, he thought, taking in his professional surroundings.

Marines walked about inside the office wearing various forms of uniforms, depending on their ranks and assigned duties. He'd already had the pleasure of meeting his boss, Spencer Knox, the same day as he'd met Sandella so he knew exactly where his office was.

As he strode down the hallway toward Spencer's office, an attractive blond female dressed in navy blues stopped him. "Do you need help?" she asked, her eyes raking


life had he been this slow when getting to work. Taking another shower after the hot sex he'd engaged in with Sandella had resulted in this.

The time on his desk flashed to 7:49 as he sought to catch his breath. Damn, he was only eleven minutes early, he thought, berating himself for succumbing to Sandella before leaving the house. But then again, there wasn't a man on this earth who would've been stupid enough to refuse such advances.

He hit the power button on his computer thinking he had to get to work at least thirty minutes early from now on. Fooling around with Sandella this morning had had him rushing to the office again today. She'd sucked him like a pro. Waking up to a good breakfast andright." His eyes traveled to the brown bag sitting on the counter behind him. He reached inside and slid out a foil baking dish. "I picked up some baked ziti and a bottle of wine from Villa Castiano."

"Mmm. I love Villa Castiano. Their garlic rolls are to die for."

"I thought maybe we could take a boat ride across the river and have dinner."

Her eyes beamed. "I'd love that. I've never been on Drake's boat before. I'm going to go grab a sweater for Royce."

"He's not going."

"Say what? Well, who's going to keep—"

"I am," Adam emerged from the family room.

"Adam! When did you get back?" Her heart lit up.

The salt-and-pepper haired man smiled. "About two hours ago."

"How was your vacation in New York?" She sounded amused.

"Terrific. But it feels


eyes scrolled over her body, "you must be a risk taker, or just plain old foolish," he told Braylon. The man snatched off his glasses. "Do you need to borrow these so you can see what I'm talking about?" He let loose a wet sounding laugh.

Braylon chuckled. He draped an arm around her neck. "No thanks, sir. I may be a lot of things, but foolish ain't one of them. I know I have a good thing." He squeezed her shoulder for emphasis.

SANDELLA'S CHEEKS BURNED. Standing in the stranger's family room she wondered if Braylon was trying to impress the man or if he was serious when he'd implied she was his. Hoping it was the later, she mounted the steps to the top of the staircase. Theas she wrapped her tongue around his finger. Excitement flickered in his eyes. Before she had time to swallow it all the way, he slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her. As their tongues mated some of the sweet treat slithered from her mouth into his. Groaning, he swallowed it all.

Heat pounded inside her center. Her walls clenched. She wanted him inside her so badly that her entrance ached.

He slid his hand into the top of her dress, pulled out her breast, then plopped the tight nipple in his mouth. "We can't do it out here," she protested, looking around to find they were all alone, surrounded in darkness.

"Yes we can. And we are." He mouthed her swollen flesh.

I don't think I can resist him. Only teenagers


car sped off. Damn, they're getting away.

"Get dressed and get Royce dressed too," he demanded, blood boiling in his veins. "Leave the lights off."

"I'm afraid." Sandella stood shaking next to the closet.

He wrapped his hands around her shivering body, hoping to calm her. "I know you're scared, baby," he quickly pecked her forehead, "but I'm not going to let anyone hurt you." He could deal with the bastard trying to bring harm to him. But putting Sandella's and Royce's lives at stake? They were going to pay for such stupidity. I'm going to kill the bastard who did this. He made a promise to himself. Fucking coward.

# Chapter Ten

"Oh God, Braylon. Why didn't you tell me this before now?" Sandella sat in the passenger seat of the carsun. Across the street, CMC General Davidson led a unit run. The trainees trekking behind him were clad in their green track suits with gold and scarlet "Marines" lettering. As the unit started to disappear into the distance, Braylon's eyes honed in on the man jogging and carrying the American flag.

"Rough night, I heard," a female said from behind. He recognized the sassy voice immediately. Alyssa.

He turned to find the officer pinning him with a sexy stare. Alyssa strode into his office dressed in a long-sleeve midnight blue coat with medals consolidating over her left chest area, a blue skirt, and a pair of navy pumps. Her brunette hair was pulled tight to the back of her head in a low bun, revealing the creamy texture of her


and came close to colliding with another car as it vanished.

I tried to get a tag number, but there wasn't one.

Simon.

Braylon blew out a harsh breath. With the letter still in his hand, he reclined his head on the top of his chair and peered up at the ceiling. So far, every letter he'd received from Simon had been checked for fingerprints and there hadn't been any. He'd even found out that the letters weren't coming from any of the local post offices, but from somewhere in Virginia.

He folded the letter and slid it back in the envelope. And because he didn't know if his phone or computer was being tampered with, he made his way outdoors, hopped in his Hummer, and drove to a place where heunless you're home."

Kane shook his head. He drew a cigarette from his pocket, slapped it between his tongue and jaw. He then withdrew it, not bothering to light it. "If you know something, you better go and tell it, damn it!"

"He can't, Dad," Chandler said.

"Like hell he can't!" Kane retorted.

Aric put a hand on his father's shoulder. "As a criminal investigator, there are certain things he's not at liberty to say."

"Well, if he's sleeping with my damn daughter that shit should be out the damn window. Ain't no such thing as privacy when you sharing your bed with somebody."

"Daaadd!" Sandella shouted.

"Cool it, Dad!" Chandler spoke out. "The man is just doing his job."

The room fell silent until Kane broke the ice. "Well, where should she stay then?"

"She can


the locked door clicked open.

Close to midnight, he entered the quiet dark building to find it empty, even eerie. He rounded his secretary's desk, strode past his office, then stalked down the long murky hallway toward the storage area where all the original case files were kept.

Coming to a stop in front of the steel door, he punched in his security code. Beeeep. The alarm purred, disarming the airtight security. He proceeded inside, shutting the door behind him.

Turning on the bright lights might signal others that he was inside so he left them off. Although he had a right to be in this room, Forest had a way of making him feel like he didn't. Row after row of tall silver shelves filled the cold room.

I need toa set of dry eyes in the room, including Braylon's.

After everyone regained their composure, Sandella and her family sat chatting about the awful events until Kane finally said he was ready to go home. He thanked Braylon so many times he couldn't count the number even if he wanted. Right before the Summers men left, Kane reminded Braylon that he had his blessing to date Sandella. The fact that Kane had given him his blessing twice sent him to grinning.

Standing in the doorway gripping the frame, he watched in delight as Kane's truck backed out of the driveway. Happy to have brought Sandella and the men in her family closure, he shut the door. He plopped down on the couch next to her. "How are you feeling?"

She released


crossed in front of Willa to open the door and found an African-American mailman standing in his doorway. "I have a certified letter for Braylon Wexler."

"That's me." The bald-headed gentleman handed him the letter and Braylon signed his name on the electronic device. "Thanks."

The young man nodded. "You're welcome, sir. Have a great day."

Braylon's pulse thudded wildly in his neck as he examined the envelope from the Diagnostic Laboratory Clinic containing the paternity results regarding little Drayton. The last time he'd spoken with the clinic, they'd stated it might take another week before he received them because Madison had taken her sweet precious time getting Drayton tested. But now, finally, here they were.

Nervous, he inhaled deeply. The contents inside would determine his fate with Sandella—a woman he adored.male physique on top of her and his sheathed cock grinding her belly.

Sweat saturated her back, and oh...oh...oh, Goooddd! Her breathing heightened. Just as she was about to come, he pulled his fingers from her entrance, sniffed them, then one by one he sucked off her creamy fluid.

He reached inside his pants and pulled out his heavily veined shaft. The engorged head looked delicious and made her mouth water. "Do you miss this?" he asked, fisting the beast. He grazed her arm with his steely tool. Tremors of delight pimpled her arms and her nipples snapped into tight buds.

"Yes, baby. I miss you, so much, baby. Please, please," she begged, writhing with the need to be fucked by him. "Please make love to me."

"I miss you too, baby."


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followed her onto the podium on Sunday, the Hon Tristram Hunt, the privately educated son of a Labour peer, would face an uphill struggle.

As the son of a Hampstead academic, Ed Miliband would surely tick the wrong box. So would Ed Balls, the private school, Oxford and Harvard-educated son of a zoology professor. Even some of Labour’s most iconic figures might struggle in Miss De Piero’s brave new world.

Clement Attlee, the boarding school-educated son of a Surrey solicitor, who served as Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951, would not do at all. As products of private schools and Oxford, both Michael Foot and Tony Benn would be out, too.

And as for Sir Stafford Cripps — the Winchester-educated son of a Tory baron who served as Attlee’s Chancellor duringchassis of the vehicle. The motor carrier frame comprises an over-travel cage with a portion of the chassis projecting into the cage and being movable in the cage.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a motor mounting system for a motorized vehicle is provided comprising a motor carrier frame and a resilient flexible member connecting the motor carrier frame to a chassis of the vehicle. The resilient flexible member comprises a one-piece member with a first receiving aperture and a second receiving aperture. A portion of a first connection section on the chassis projects into the first receiving aperture and a portion of a second connection section on the motor carrier frame projects into the second receiving aperture.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention,


a motor mounting system for a motorized vehicle is provided comprising a first connection section, a second connection section and a resilient flexible connection. The first connection section is stationarily connected to a chassis of the motorized vehicle. The first connection section comprises a first cantilevered projection. The second connection section is stationarily connected to a motor carrier frame. The second connection section comprises a second cantilevered projection. The resilient flexible connection connects the first and second cantilevered projections to each other. The first and second cantilevered projections project, at least partially, in a same direction from the chassis and the motor carrier frame, respectively.
In accordance with one method of the present invention, a method of connecting a motor carrier frame to a chassis of a vehicle isHeavy rain and landslides force hundreds of thousands of people to take shelter in relief camps.

The death toll from floods in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra has risen to at least 147, according to authorities, as rescue teams raced to evacuate people and waters submerged parts of a world heritage site.

Heavy rain and landslides forced hundreds of thousands of people to take shelter in relief camps, while train services were cancelled in several flood-hit areas.

In the southern state of Kerala, at least 57 people were killed in rain-related incidents while more than 165,000 were in relief camps in the state, local authorities said on Sunday.

“Several houses are still covered under 10-12 feet deep mud. This is hampering rescue work,” state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Authorities


the death toll stood at 30, the flood situation was improving, according to state-run All India Radio, though authorities said it would be difficult to restore rail services in some flood-hit areas within the next two weeks.

While Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra have been the worst hit this year, several other states including Gujarat, Assam and Bihar have also seen heavy damage due to floods.

India’s main opposition Congress party on Sunday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide relief packages.

Citing media reports, the party said so far this year 446 people have been killed in six flood-hit states including Assam, Bihar and Gujarat.

“Despite the mammoth loss of lives and displacement caused due to floods, the government is failing to realize the gravity of the flood fury,” it saidbit growth by 80% by the end of 2010.

Samsung boosted DRAM bit growth via die shrinks by only 10% in 4Q09 and expects a further bit growth of 10% in 1Q10. Total bit growth for DRAM is expected to be in the region of 60% for 2010.

Rising ASPs seen in the second half of 2009, which occurred on the back of increasing demand but tight supply of memory products due to several consecutive years of underinvestment in new capacity by memory manufacturers led to significant revenue generation and a return to profitability.

However, the underinvestment has meant little or no new 300mm fab capacity is available to come on stream as new fab construction was ruled-out since 2008, due to overcapacity and massive losses by the most memory manufacturers.

According


to market research firm IC Insights, overall DRAM CapEx fell to US$3.2 billion in 2009, down from US$9.7 billion in 2008. However, CapEx in 2007, stood at a combined total of US$18.7 billion.

In the period 2004 to 2008, DRAM CapEx amounted to over US$63 billion. With fab utilization rates above 90% in 4Q09, even modest demand growth could cause continued shortages.

The overcapacity situation and financial losses so severe, led DRAM producer, Qimonda to fold and its assets sold off. Efforts were also made and failed by the Taiwan government in an attempt to consolidate DRAM producers in a bid to save the industry.

None of the Taiwan DRAM manufacturers have the capital or access to the funds required to rapidly migrate to smaller nodes to boost bit growth orRangel’s 42-Year Stint in House Hinges on Latino Vote

When New York Democrat Charles Rangel first ran for U.S. Congress in 1970, he was so friendly with Nelson Rockefeller that the Republican governor wished him happy birthday, handed him a map and a pencil, and told him to draw his own district.

Rangel, 82, who wrote about the incident in his 2007 autobiography, “And I Haven’t Had a Bad Day Since,” reminisced last week about how in his first campaigns he ran with Rockefeller’s blessing, piling up votes on both the Democratic and Republican lines.

“Those days are over,” he said.

This year, it was a federal judge that drew a new district for Rangel, one that may end his 42-year House career. The remapping takes away much of Manhattan’s Upper West


Side, where the co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus has garnered votes for decades, and stretches the district’s northern border through Latino areas of the Bronx.

Adriano Espaillat, 57, a Democratic state senator, seized the opportunity and has challenged him in a June 26 primary, telling voters they could make history by electing the first Dominican-American to Congress.

“Demographics are destiny for Charlie Rangel,” said William Cunningham, who has served as senior adviser to former New York Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo, chief of staff to former U.S. Senator Daniel Moynihan and as Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s communications director.

Purple Heart

Rangel, who in the Korean War received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation for leading 40 comrades to safety from behind enemy lines, got to Congress by defeatingAdam Clayton Powell Jr., New York’s first black congressman. Powell had served 26 years and become enmeshed in scandal.

As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Rangel made a name for himself grilling witnesses during the Watergate hearings and subsequent impeachment proceedings that forced President Richard Nixon’s 1974 resignation. Working his way up the seniority system -- he has served longer than all but three current House members -- Rangel in 2007 became chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which helps write U.S. tax and trade policy.

Then, in 2010, a House committee found him guilty of 11 ethical violations, including failure to pay some taxes and disclose rental income on a Dominican Republic house he owned. He lost the chairmanship, which he would have had to give up


York, or if time disallows I'll simply hide in my house and lock all the doors

What are you listening to?

This week, Sam Cooke on repeat, but usually, reggae music is probably my most favourite music. Derek Harriet, Augustus Pablo, Lee Scratch Perry, all the good men.

World of LSF

Stylist, designer and creative director Rebecca Hessel Cohen was born and raised in NYC. For over seven years she worked as Senior Fashion and Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan Magazine, where she styled and produced celebrity covers and fashion and beauty editorials. While traveling extensively on photo shoots around the world, Rebecca fell in love with various countries, cultures and aesthetics, all of which continue to influence her design and point of view.

It was her childhood summers spent at her family’s Hamptonshome where her love affair with the beach began, becoming the perfect backdrop for her fairytale wedding in 2010 and later the inspiration for her wanderlust label LoveShackFancy.

The colors, the light and the salty warm air inspired Rebecca's magical backyard wedding, evocative of the South of France meets Great Expectations. Always the dreamer and creator, Rebecca designed her own bridesmaid dresses to make her dream a reality. "I truly wanted my bridesmaids to look and feel like ethereal goddesses, dancing barefoot in the garden under the moonlit summer night."

Receiving such an overwhelming response from family and friends, Rebecca saw an opportunity and a need for effortless pieces women can wear from day to night, city to beach. Rebecca officially left the magazine world to throw herself into her


new business venture in 2012, successfully launching the brand LoveShackFancy and becoming a mother within the same month. She launched the eponymous label in May 2013 and evolved the collection to become the ultimate bohemian inspired womens fashion collection forming the perfect travel wardrobe with a cult following of boho, globe-trotting goddesses, including Gwyneth Paltrow, JLo and Chrissy Tiegen. She now employs a team of five and stocks in Barneys, Intermix, Saks, Neimans, Revolve, Shopbop and more than 50 specialty retailers around the world.is possible to change the color of the ground in compositing independently from the vegetation.

The second consisted of the grass on the green and the dark grass around it. Because it is so small, Multiscatter needed a lot of scatter objects to fill the whole area without noticeable irregularities. We also decided to render the vegetation of the lake in this pass.

The third pass contains the high grass around the green´s border of darker grass, the grass in the forest and the trees.

Through hiding and unhiding areas of vegetation with the visibility sets of RP Manager it was possible to render the whole vegetation of the scene in three passes to merge them later in the compositing. The first pass only took up less than 2 GByte of


creating an independent central bank, member countries have become indebted in a currency that they don't control. The risk of default relegates some member countries to the status of third world countries that became over-indebted in a foreign currency. This feature of the euro was ignored both by the authorities and market participants until the Greek crisis and it is still not properly understood today.

At first, both the authorities and market participants treated all government bonds as if they were riskless, creating a perverse incentive for banks to load up on the weaker bonds. When Greece revealed the extent of its deficit, financial markets discovered the risk of sovereign debt default and raised risk premiums not only on Greek bonds but on the bonds of all heavily indebtedeuro members with a vengeance. Since European banks were heavily loaded with exactly those bonds, this precipitated a twin sovereign debt and banking crisis.

Subsequently the so-called periphery countries were treated as if they were solely responsible for their misfortunes and the structural defects of the euro remained uncorrected. Germany and the other creditor countries did the minimum necessary to preserve the euro but they continued to apply the treaties that proved to be flawed and imposed new rules that prolonged and aggravated the recession. The pain and suffering is almost entirely self-inflicted by the eurozone. It has the quality of a nightmare.

The burden of responsibility falls mainly on Germany. The Bundesbank helped design the blueprint for the euro, whose defects put Germany into the driver's seat. This has


after five years the outstanding debt would be gradually reduced to 60% of GDP. Non-compliant countries would be penalised by restricting the amount of eurobonds they are allowed to issue, forcing them to borrow the balance in their own name and pay heavy risk premiums – a powerful inducement to adhere to the fiscal compact's terms.

Eurobonds would not ruin Germany's credit rating. On the contrary, they would favorably compare with the bonds of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Eurobonds are not a panacea. First of all, the fiscal compact itself needs some modifications to ensure that the penalties are automatic, prompt and not too severe to be credible. Second, the boost derived from eurobonds may not be sufficient, necessitating additional stimulus but it would be aof default would disappear. Their debt would suddenly become sustainable. Most of the burden of adjustment would fall on the countries that left the euro. Their exports would become less competitive and they would encounter stiff competition from the euro area in their home markets.

By contrast, if Italy left, its euro-denominated debt burden would become unsustainable and would have to be restructured. This would plunge the global financial system into a meltdown, which may well prove beyond the capacity of the monetary authorities to contain. The collapse of the euro would likely lead to the disorderly disintegration of the European Union and Europe would be left worse off than it had been when it embarked on the noble experiment of creating a European Union. So, if anyone must


he intends any reference to the greek circular notion of time.
Attaching a couple of quotes from the beginning and near the end of the above mentioned essay (only 39 pages in its entirety), to give a flavour of the concepts under discussion :-

I. THE PROBLEM OF GROUND
The "principle of reason" as a "supreme principle" seems to preclude
  from the very outset anything like a problem of ground.  Yet is the
  "principle of reason" an assertion about ground as such?  As a
  supreme principle, does it reveal at all the essence of ground?  The
  usual, abbreviated version of the principle states: nihil est sine
  ratione, nothing is without reason.  Transcribing it positively, this
  states: omne ens habet rationem, everyboth conventional and less invasive CABG procedures, the surgeon has to suture one end of the graft vessel to the coronary artery and the other end of the graft vessel to a blood supplying vein or artery, such as the aorta. The suturing process is a time consuming and difficult procedure requiring a high level of surgical skill. In order to perform the suturing of the graft to a target vessel such as the coronary artery or the blood supplying artery the surgeon generally has an assistant hold the edges of the incision in the target vessel while the surgeon takes small stitches as close as possible to the edges of the incision. This suturing requires a high degree of precision and is quite time consuming. In addition,


during conventional CABG procedures blood flow at the anastomosis site is stopped during suturing. This prevents bleeding from the incision site but also prevents blood from reaching a portion of the heart muscle served by the vessel.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a vascular anastomosis system which allows the tissue at the anastomosis site to be controlled during suturing or other connection of the graft and target vessels. It would also be desirable to provide a vascular anastomosis system which allows the connection of a graft vessel to a target vessel prior to making an incision in the target vessel which allows blood flow between the target vessel and the graft vessel.
The present invention relates to an anastomosis system and method for controlling a blood vessel tissueintended anastomosis site, supporting a wall of the target vessel at the intended anastomosis site with the anvil positioned adjacent an interior of the wall, performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and the target vessel, and making an incision in the wall of the target vessel to allow blood flow between the graft vessel and the target vessel.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, an anastomosis system for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel includes an elongated anvil having substantially parallel staple bending features for bending the ends of staples, at least one staple with staple ends configured to be received by the staple bending features, and a staple holder for holding the at least one staple while puncturing tissue.
In accordance with a


further aspect of the invention, an anvil for use in performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel includes a handle, and an elongated anvil arm extending from the handle. The anvil arm has substantially parallel staple bending grooves or recesses for bending the ends of anastomosis staples. The elongated anvil arm is configured to be inserted into the target vessel beside an anastomosis site through a small incision which allows pressurization of the vessel to be maintained.
According to another aspect of the invention, a stapling system for use in performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel includes a plurality of staples having ends configured to be inserted through tissue and bent over to secure the tissue, an expandable backbone supporting the pluralityof staples for insertion. The backbone has an expandable configuration allowing a spacing between the plurality of staples to be changed.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention, a stapling system for use in performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel includes a plurality of staples having ends configured to be inserted through tissue and bent over to secure the tissue, a staple strip holding the plurality of staples in a spaced arrangement for insertion into the tissue as a row of staples, and a frangible portion provided between each of the plurality of staples and the staple strip allowing the staples to be separated from the staple strip after insertion.


President Trump landed Tuesday in Vietnam for his crucial summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- the president's second meeting as part of a bold push to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

“Looking forward to a very productive Summit,” Trump tweeted on Monday before boarding Air Force One.

KIM JONG UN ARRIVES IN VIETNAM FOR SECOND NUCLEAR SUMMIT WITH TRUMP

Trump landed in Hanoi hours after Kim arrived by armored train. The summit will take place later this week. Officials in Hanoi told The Associated Press that they only had about 10 days to prepare, but promised airtight security for the two leaders.

But the chaotic preparations included the White House press corps being shifted to a new hotel before Kim arrived. Kim subsequently toured parts of Hanoi, where localsstood behind barriers to catch a glimpse of the leader of the hermit kingdom.

Trump has repeatedly hailed his meeting with Kim in Singapore last June as a success, although there were few concrete outcomes from the summit.

North Korea initially turned over 55 boxes of presumed remains of U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War as part of the agreement from the summit, although it has not yet followed through with returning additional remains.

North Korea also pledged to work “toward” complete denuclearization, something critics say the communist regime has not adequately honored either.

NORTH KOREA DRAGGING FEET ON TURNING OVER REMAINS

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this month said that he was hoping for a “substantive step forward” but cautioned that “it may not happen, but I hope that it will.”

"President


Trump has also said this is going to take time. There may have to be another summit. We may not get everything done this week," Pompeo said.

Pompeo said he hoped to put a "road map" in place, but would not discuss the possibility of declaring a formal end to the Korean War or pulling some American troops from South Korea, in keeping with his stand against publicly discussing the issue that could arise during the negotiations.

But Fox News is told that the White House, State Department, Defense Department, Treasury Department and Energy Department are concerned about where Special Envoy to North Korea Stephen Biegun is moving with negotiations -- and that he is "getting too far over his skis."

One particular concern is that denuclearization, seen by many officialsBattleground

Even before its Independence in 1960, Nigeria had been a battleground between the Muslim North and the Christian South. Nigeria has never really been one homogenous country. The area today known as Nigeria existed as a number of independent and hostile nations until 1900. Britain was requested to intervene in the area in the 1800s, by the Yoruba king, to stop the ravages of the slave trade.

Protectorates

The first step towards building Nigeria came in 1900 with the creation by the British government of the Northern and Southern Protectorates, along with the Colony of Lagos. In May 1906, the Colony of Lagos and the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria was amalgamated to become one administrative area.

Amalgamation

The first step in the amalgamation of the Muslim North with the Christian and Animist


South of Nigeria, was the move by Lord Lugard on 1 January 1914, to bring both Nigeria's under one amalgamated administrative base in Lagos. During the Nigeria Council debate in Lagos 1920, Sir Hugh Clifford described Nigeria as: "A collection of independent native states, separated from one another by great distances, by differences of history and traditions and by ethnological, racial, tribal, political, social and religious barriers."

A Country of Contrasts and Conflict

The 1922 Constitution made provision for elected members of the Nigerian Legislative Council to make laws for the Southern provinces, but not for the North. The British recognised that Nigeria was effectively three regions and they organised their indirect rule through the already well-developed political, social and economic systems of Nigeria’s major ethnic groups.

Muslim North

The mostly MuslimNorth was ruled indirectly through the Emirs, who themselves owed allegiance to a supreme Sultan. The Hausa and Fulani tribes predominate in the North.

Yorubaland

The Yoruba predominate in the South West. Although ruled by monarchs, the Yoruba allowed for greater upward mobility based on acquired, rather than inherited, wealth and titles.

Igboland

The Igbo in the South East lived in autonomous, organised communities, which were under chiefs, but who made their decisions through general assemblies, in which the men could participate.

Missionary Work

As Christian missionaries had first begun work among the Yoruba in the South West, the Yoruba were the best educated, and provided most of the civil servants, doctors, lawyers, technicians and other professionals. The Igbo had received the Gospel much later than the Yoruba, but had overwhelmingly adopted Christianity and


had enthusiastically taken to Western education. Many of the wealthiest Igbo sent their sons to British universities. Soon the Igbo outstripped all others in entrepreneurship.

No Missionaries Allowed in the North

However, Christian Missionaries were forbidden to operate in the Muslim North of Nigeria. As a result, by 1960, Northern Nigeria was by far the least developed area, with a literacy rate of barely 2%.

Divergent Aspirations

During the 1940s and 1950s, the Igbo and Yoruba parties were in the forefront of the campaign for independence from Britain. The Northern leaders, fearful that they would be swamped by the more prosperous, better-educated Southerners, preferred the perpetuation of British rule. The Hausa/Fulani North demanded that they would only accept independence on the condition that the country continue to be divided into three regions,with the North having effective autonomy in terms of its laws, but benefiting from the wealth of the South.

Regionalism

The Constitution of 1950 entrenched the regional separation along ethnic lines between the Fulani and Hausa North, the Yoruba South West and the Igbo South East. The 1951 Constitution granted strong regional legislatures.

Independence Delayed

The Kano riots of 1953 delayed the target date of self-government. The Constitutional Conferences of 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960, culminated in the granting of Independence to Nigeria on 1 October 1960.

Tribal Politics

The political parties were largely regional and based on tribal allegiances. The Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) represented the Hausa and Fulani Muslims of the North. The Action Group (AG) represented the Yoruba in the West and the National Conference of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC)


the Igbo in the East.

Tumultuous Times

From the beginning of Nigeria's Independence, ethnic and religious tensions between the Southern regions and North, beset the new government. The general census of 1962 was widely denounced as riddled with malpractices and gross inflation of figures of such astronomical proportions that the Eastern region refused to accept the results.

Revolt Against Islam

The middle belt of tribes, including the Tiv, revolted against the Islamic rule of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) from 1962 to 1965.

Fraudulent Elections

The first general elections of 1964 triggered the greatest crisis of all. The elections were generally dismissed as neither free, nor fair, and even the Chairman of the Electoral Commission admitted that there were proven irregularities. The 1965 Elections were even more brazenly and shamefully rigged and law andorder broke down completely, leading to a state of anarchy.

Lawlessness

Arson and indiscriminate killings were carried out by private armies of thugs owing allegiance to the various political parties. Law-abiding citizens lived in constant fear of their lives and properties.

Chaos Leads to Coup

Amidst the widespread chaos and confusion, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu led a group of junior army officers in seizing control of the government in a coup d’état. This coup was generally applauded in the North where it was most successful.

Military Rule

Then General Johnson Ironsi took control of the country instituting military rule, but claiming that he wanted to defend the democratic institutions (which had clearly failed) and clean up corruption, before returning the country to democratic rule.

Counter Coup

As Ironsi was an Igbo, the Northerners executed a counter coup


on 29 July 1966, led by Lieutenant Colonel Murtala Mohammed. To attempt to allay the fears of the Southerners, Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon, a Christian from a minority tribe in the North, was put forward as the nominal head of the military government.

Massacres

Thereafter large-scale massacres of Christian Igbo living in the Muslim North erupted and continued throughout August and September 1966. General lawless and disorder spread throughout the North like wildfire, with widespread looting and killing of Southern Christians.

Ethnic Cleansing

Even Lieutenant Colonel Gowon, as the military head of state, broadcast: "I receive complaints daily that up till now Easterners living in the North are being killed and molested and their property looted. It appears that it is going beyond reason and is now at a point of recklessnessand irresponsibility."

Seceding from Chaos

Amidst this breakdown of law and order, the military governor of the Igbo dominated South East, Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu joined with the Southern parliament in proclaiming the secession of the South Eastern region from Nigeria. As one commentator at the time proclaimed: "The federation was sick at birth and by January 1966, the sick, bedridden babe collapsed." Three coup d’états in one year, followed by widespread targeting and massacres of Christian Igbo in the Muslim North, had now provoked the South Eastern region to secede from chaos.

Separation

At this point soldiers in the Nigerian Armed Forces were encouraged to return to their place of origin. Muslim Hausa soldiers in the South moved North, Igbo and Yoruba Christian soldiers in the North returned to their homes in


the South. These soldiers, along with a stream of other refugees, returned to the South with news of Muslim brutality against them.

Hostility

Indignation grew and the fragile threads that held the artificial country together were severed. A war of words erupted through the radios and newspapers. Nigeria had never been united. The sixty years of British protectorate and 63 months of the First Republic had only hidden the basic disunity beneath a thin veneer.

Peace Negotiations

Early in 1967, a peace negotiation was called under the auspices of General Ankrah of Ghana, in Aburi, Ghana, between the Supreme Military Council of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Eastern Region Military Governor, Lieutenant General Ojukwu. Ojukwu managed to achieve agreement to a Confederation for Nigeria.

Breakdown

However, when Gowon returned to Lagos, theNigeria Military Government reneged on the agreement he had just agreed to. Ojukwu accused the Federal Government of bad faith, lack of integrity and going back on its agreement. An attempt by the Emperor Hallie Selassie of Ethiopia to intervene was unsuccessful. This new nation was proclaimed the Republic of Biafra on 30 May 1967.

Independence Declared

When on 30 May 1967, the Republic of Biafra was proclaimed, Colonel Gowon ordered a total blockade of the South Eastern province. June was spent by both sides in frenzied preparations for war.

The Nigerian Civil War Begins

The war began on 6 July 1967, when the Nigerian Federal troops opened an artillery barrage and then advanced in two columns into Biafra. They faced unexpectantly fierce resistance and suffered high casualties. The Biafrans then responded


with an offensive of their own on 9 August when Biafran forces moved West, across the Niger River and through Benin City. Within two weeks they had advanced to just 130 miles East of the Nigerian capital of Lagos. While the Nigerians ultimately recaptured this territory, the Biafrans had succeeded in throwing the Nigerians onto the defensive and tying down vast numbers of Federal troops, who otherwise would have been invading Biafra.

Resistance

When the Nigerian Federal Army attempted to cross the Niger River from Asaba, they lost over 5,000 soldiers in the battle. 1968 was a year of military stalemate. The Nigerian forces were unable to make significant advances due to stiff resistance and a series of major defeats.

Starvation

However, the capture of Port Harcourt and the naval blockade ofBiafra led to a humanitarian disaster with widespread civilian hunger and starvation in the besieged Igbo areas. The Biafrans claimed that Nigeria was using hunger and genocide to win the war. At this stage volunteer bodies began organising blockade breaking relief flights into Biafra, carrying food and medicines.

International Involvement

Nigeria received huge financial and military support from the United Arab Republic, including Egyptian Air Force units which ruthlessly bombed refugee feeding centres, hospitals and churches. Nigeria also received military support from the Soviet Union, Syria, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Red China and inexplicably the United Kingdom.

Atrocities from the Air

Egyptian pilots used MiG17 fighter bombers and Ilyushin-28 bombers to attack civilian targets, even bombing Red Cross shelters and hospitals. French Doctor Bernard Kouchner was outraged that the gag order, that the