The Life News, Jan 1, 2019

THE LIFE NEWS WISHING ALL OF YOU MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019

TWO DEAD AFTER BOMB EXPLODES OUTSIDE MALL IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES TL Bureau Manila: A bomb explosion ripped through stalls selling fruits and trinkets outside a mall in the southern Philippines on Monday, killing two people and injuring 24, police and the military said, according to dpa. The improvised explosive device was placed in a box left near the stalls that were also selling firecrackers and toys outside the South Seas Mall in Cotabato City, 895 kilometres south of Manila.

A second, undetonated bomb was found along the same street, near where the explosion occurred, said Major General Cirilito Sobejana. “The second bomb was left, probably in a hurry,” he said. “We are still checking if the bomb that exploded was detonated by a cellular phone or another triggering machine was used.” A man and a woman were declared dead on arrival at two hospitals in Cotabato City, a police report said, citing information from the four hospitals in total where the victims were rushed

NEWS Vol. 02 Issue 01 January 1, 2019 thelifenews.com.au

Israeli forces arrest 19 Palestinians in West Bank

TL Bureau Ramallah: Israeli forces early Monday detained 19 Palestinians in various West Bank cities, according to a Palestinian source. A statement by the Palestinian Prisoners Society said that the Israeli army stormed the cities of Ramallah, El-Beira, Nablus, Bethlehem and Hebron and a number of neighborhoods in East Jerusalem (AlQuds) and arrested the people.

£38 million to boost accommodation for London’s homeless

TL Bureau London: Thousands of extra homes will be made available for vulnerable Londoners at risk of becoming homeless, Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has announced today (31 December 2018). Through an innovative new scheme – the first of its kind – London boroughs join forces to provide safe accommodation for families on the edge of homelessness.

China Issues Blizzard Warning

TL Bureau Shanghai: China issued a blizzard alert as temperatures around the country plunged on Sunday, shutting down train lines, bus routes and grounding some flights. The National Meteorological Center in China issued a code blue alert, with heavy snowstorms closing in on regions in the eastern and southern provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui and Hunan.

If you want yourself on this newspaper to be shown in all over the world.

Contact our advertising department at thelife.advertisement@outlook.com.au

68 KILLED IN LANDSLIDES IN EASTERN PHILIPPINES AND 19 STILL MISSING TL Bureau.

Manila: The death toll from landslides and floods caused by heavy rains brought by a tropical depression in the eastern Philippines has risen to 68.

Rescuers were still searching for 19 missing in the affected provinces in the eastern regions of Bicol and Eastern Visayas, the national disaster risk reduction office said on Monday.

Fifty-seven of the dead were reported from Bicol, while 11 people died in near-

by Eastern Visayas, the office said.

Twelve people were also injured in various accidents in the two regions most affected by the rains days before the tropical depression made landfall in Eastern Samar province on Saturday.

Filipino residents wade along a street at a flooded community in the town of Bulan, Sorsogon province.

Filipino residents wade along a street at a flooded community in the town of Bulan, Sorsogon province.

The system weakened into a low pressure area but was continuing to bring heavy rains over the eastern provinces, enhanced by a cold front and the northeast monsoon, the weather bureau said.

More than 22,000 people were displaced by the bad weather, which also knocked out electricity in many of the affected areas, regional civil defence officials said.

Search and rescue operations were ongoing for the missing, while emergency teams were also clearing some

roads and bridges made impassable by landslides and floods. Many areas were still flooded and emergency teams had to use boats and trucks to reach some areas, said Edgar Posadas, a spokesman for the agency. Filipino residents collect belongings from their damaged home at the landslide-hit community in Bulan, Sorsogon province.

Filipino residents collect belongings from their damaged home at the landslide-hit community in Bulan, Sorsogon province.

Russian apartment Robots to fix underground and help cut roadworks block blast kills 3 pipes New investment to create tiny robots that TL Bureau MOSCOW: Russian rescuers were on Monday searching for people trapped under the rubble of a city apartment block that partly collapsed in a suspected gas blast, killing at least three, RIA said, according to Reuters.

Russia’s emergencies ministry told the news agency that four people had been recovered alive from the nine-storey building in Magnitogorsk, an industrial city some 1,700 km (1,050 miles) east of Moscow in the southern Urals.

State television said it was unclear how many people were still trapped.

The emergencies ministry said the blast, probably caused by a gas leak, damaged 48 apartments.

can help repair the UK’s vast underground pipe network and prevent disruption of roadworks in the future

TL Bureau.

London : New micro robots will be built to repair the UK’s huge underground pipe network, significantly cutting the disruption caused by the 1.5 million road excavations that take place every year.

Scientists from 4 British universities will use £26.6 million government investment to develop 1 cm-long robotic devices that use sensors and navigation systems to find and mend cracks in pipes. The traffic closures and disruption to businesses of these roadworks is estimated to amount to more than £5 billion. A further 14 projects backed by the government will see robots sent to hazardous work places such as offshore wind-farms and nuclear decommissioning facilities.

Singapore Edition COMING SOON...

The meals that make a difference ASIA | OCEANIA | MIDDLE EAST | AMERICA | AFRICA | EUROPE

In emergencies, going to school can be nearly impossible, especially for girls. Providing a nutritious meal at school helps children stay in class and learn.

That investment in human potential builds economic growth in communities.

Giving everyone a chance for a brighter future.

@thelifenews1

@thelifenews.australia

Join us @WorldFoodProgramme Follow us @WFP

thelifenewsaus

TheLifeNews

OCLC: 1049174218

2

EDITORIAL

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019 OR HAPPY TO HAVE FEW YEARS REMAINING H

appy new year 2019 to all World. Yes you all are right and feel and see that New Year starts today and we all plan and wishes to start a new goals in this year, new plans and new good habits to start.

But in real sense all knows that where the humanity and mankind is going. All going towards disaster and destruction.

During our last year of 2018 we’ve seen that on almost everyday lot of gunshots in America took lives of uncounted deaths people.

Uncounted people named as migrants from South American countries tries to cross the US border in search of better life and future in search of getting better human rights but stopped and with gunshots, water pressure and other pressure of man made barriers. We’ve seen the video of how the border and other officials of US destroyed the food and water of the upcoming migrants, so that they will not survive because of the scarcity of basic element of life water.

Last year two journalists most famous from Saudi Arabia lost their live for exposing the truth of the administrators. And not allowed to choose freedom as their human rights. In Melbourne, Australia one man with knife shot because of his unlawful actions on busy roads in Melbourne as a part of terror activity. Almost every country including Australia seizing the drugs of all kinds which is the slow but biggest threat to mankind and youth which are the future of any country. Russia tries to maintain ag-

CORRESPONDENTS & BUREAUS CONTACTS WORLDWIDE Contact us if you have any story worldwide Aus: aus@thelifenews.com.au NZ, Fiji & Oceania : nz@thelifenews.com.au Thai, Malaysia, Singapore sg@thelifenews.com.au India SriLanka Nepal: india@thelifenews.com.au US, Canada & Mexico: usa@thelifenews.com.au UK & Ireland: uk@thelifenews.com.au Russia, Ukraine, Belarus & CIS russia@thelifenews.com.au Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania: estonia@thelifenews.com.au Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherland: swiss@thelifenews. com.au Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark : finland@thelifenews.com.au

gression and pressured on Ukrainian part Crimea and Ossetia and reacted the world community to go in right way. Egypt was bombed in a bus killed dozens of people.

On other side of way the natural calamities tries to give example to the mankind that what they doing in form of disturbing the earth with doing more disturbance like cutting trees, changing the ways of rivers, changing the lakes, disturbance in marine life and barrier reefs, overfishing the whales, smuggling the endangered wildlife and hunting the species which are critical and endangered.

So it’s all because of greed and hunger for money worldwide.

Last year lot of earthquakes worldwide like earthquake in Japan, earthquakes in Philippines took life of more than 27 and tsunami created a disaster and earthquakes in Indonesia also disturbed the humankind

and stopped the flights and postponed the daily life works with government preparedness like more than 20000 people are evacuated from coastal areas along Sunda Strait.

From all over the world all head of the states pays their congratulations to their fellow countrymen about New Year 2019 like President of South Africa said in his message that we will not forget the struggle and contribution of Ex Mr Nelson Mandela and celebrating of Mr Mandela as well and shared his views that we

have tried to build better South Africa with values and principles they gained from their great people.

Interpol wishes safe and happy new year to the world. Indian Leader give their happy New Years in a way that they will be committed towards their responsibility.

And many others as well.

All over the world in real sense some are died because of starvation but some are because of having terrorism. Some lost their life because of having more money but some are because of not having money. Some giving birth to babies uncounted and then babies are uncontrollable creates imbalance into the society. Some are dead inside tummy of their mum without having food and nutrition.

So from the life news desk we would like to have a safe and happy new year 2019 to all over the world with full of opportunities and choice to make ourselves in the right person in actual a real human.

And now it’s on ourselves that what actually we want to become human or alien.

If we will be human then happy new year and if we are against humanity then no day will far that we would actually say that happy few years remains for our life.

Happy New Year 2019.

For letter to editor and suggestions please reach us at thelife.editorial@outlook.com.au

ADDRESS OF PUBLISHER: The Life (Digital & Print), Dr Parveen Malik, 127 Aberdeen Parade, Boondall 4034, Australia +61 (7) 31913325, Email: thelife.editorial@outlook.com.au For advertisement contact manager at thelife.advertisement@outlook.com.au

3

WORLD

Israel’s Right to Self-Defense TL Bureau.

Washington, DC: The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Iranian regional actions that endanger Israeli national security and the safety of the Israeli people. Iranian support of and supply to terrorist groups in Syria and across the region that have the clear intent and capability to strike Israel are unacceptable. The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against the Iranian regime’s aggressive adventurism, and we will continue to ensure that Israel has the military capacity to do so decisively. The commitment of the Trump Administration and the American people to ensuring Israel’s security is both enduring and unshakable.

Shots Fired in the parking lot at Oak Park Mali

TL Bureau.

Overland: On December 26, 2018, at approximately 8:30pm, the Overland Park Police Depanment responded to a report of shots fired inside of Oak Park Mali, 11121 W. 95’h Street. Multiple police departments from Johnson County Kansas responded to the area to assist. Officers found no evidence of any shooting or any injured individuals inside of the mall.

During the investigation, officers learned an unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot of the mall had been struck by gunfire multiple times. There have been no individuals coming forward to advise they were injured as a result of this shooting. There are also no known suspects at this time. This incident is still under investigation.

Russian Foreign Minister Meets with His Jordanian Counterpart

TL Bureau Moscow: Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov met here today with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, the Syrian crisis, the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, and a number of issues of common interest.

European Union Strongly Condemns Attack on Tourist Bus in Egypt

TL Bureau.

Cairo: The European Union mission here today strongly condemned the attack on a tourist bus in Giza (southern Egypt) that killed three people and injured 10 others.

The European Union Mission in Cairo expressed, in a statement today, its strong condemnation of the incident, stressing that the European Union stands with Egypt in the war against terrorism.

Two tourists from Vietnam and an Egyptian tourist guide were killed and nine others injured in the attack carried out with an improvised explosive device against the tourist bus in the Pyramids area.

‘Continue working together’ UN chief urges DR Congo, as country heads to polls TL Bureau UN HQ: In a statement, the Secretary-General also encouraged all Congolese citizens to seize “this historic opportunity” to participate in the consolidation of the country’s democratic institutions.

Mr. Guterres also reminded those with a stake in the outcome of their “critical role” in preventing electoral violence, by refraining from any form of provocation and showing maximum restraint in what they say and do.

He also urged everyone to protect and ensure safe access to health facilities in Ebola affected areas, amid serious concerns, expressed by the UN health agency, that recent violence in the country’s east could reverse important gains made against the disease and increase transmission.

In a separate statement, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the UN World Health Organization, said that the

agency was doing “doing everything possible” to assist those affected by the deadly Ebola virus disease in eastern DRC despite deteriorating security situation in the region.

Protests have erupted in three key towns – Beni, Butembo and Yumbi – following the Govern-

ment’s decision to postpone elections there, amid fears of Ebola transmission, and an uptick in violence by armed groups.

In Beni, protests at Government buildings spilled into an Ebola transit centre, causing panic among both those seeking services as well as health workers.

President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Moldova opened a common border crossing point TL Bureau Udobne: President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip took part in the opening of the common UkraineMoldova border crossing point “PalancaMayaky-Udobne”.

The President of Ukraine noted that it was an important date for the Ukraine-Moldova relations.

“This is not just the launch of the common border crossing point.

This is not just the reduction of time, as Mr. Prime Minister said, for crossing the border of friendship between Ukraine and Moldova. One passport

control instead of two, one common customs control, one common database. For ordinary people, this is an element of protection of their rights, freedoms, security and an efficient tool for struggle against smuggling and

corruption,” the Head of State emphasized.

The President recalled that at the end of 2016, he had agreed with the Moldovan Prime Minister to build and launch the border crossing point in short terms with the involve-

ment of the EU assistance.

“It is important that our countries fulfill their commitments, their program of cooperation with our EU partners, as there was an agreement that the work will be done and the launch will take place in 2018,” the Head of State stressed. He thanked the EU Mission on the border assistance for Ukraine and Moldova, as well as the International Organization for Migration that have been supporting the two countries in the implementation of the best border crossing practices for years.

39 Child Care Institutions have been closed on account of noncompliance of provisions of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 Karamjeet Singh Parwana Foreign Correspondent New Delhi: As per the report submitted by the States / UTs (as on 18.09.2018), 539 institutions were closed on account of noncompliance of provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 as found by inspection committee during inspections.The Ministry had commissioned a mapping exercise to ascertain the number of

Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in 2015. As per the report of mapping, out of 9589 homes covered, only 3071 homes were found to be registered under the JJ Act, 2015. The Ministry pursued the matter with States/UTs. As a result, more than 8200 CCIs are registered under the JJ Act, 2015 as reported by the States in September, 2018.

The National Commission for Pro-

tection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been directed to conduct the social audit of all CCIs in the country. Necessary action has been initiated in this regard. As regards women shelter homes, the provision has been made in the SwadharGreh guidelines in 2018 that the State Government should ensure to conduct Social Audit with regard to the implementation of the SwadharGreh Scheme.

WORLD 4 This lists the names of people who have received The George Medal, The Queen’s Gallantry Medal and The Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

TL Bureau.

London : The Queen of England is pleased to approve the following awards of the George Medal, the Queen’s Gallantry Medal and the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery. The names of those shown below will be published in The London Gazette.

George Medal

Richard STANTON, M.B.E. Thai cave rescue, 26 June – 11 July 2018 Richard Stanton arrived in Thailand on 26 June at the request of the Thai authorities to help attempt the rescue of 12 junior footballers and their coach, who had been lost in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex in Chiang Rai Province since 23 June. Over the next three weeks he played a critical leading role in both the planning and execution of the rescue mission. His first significant contribution, on 28 June, was his reconnaissance dive upstream with John Volanthen through three completely flooded sections of passage to what later was designated as chamber 3. Here they assisted four Thai rescue workers who had been cut off by the rising water levels, which continued to rise.

Further exploration on 29 and 30 June had to be abandoned at chamber 3 as a result of strong water currents and poor visibility of around a metre. On 1 July, Volanthen and Stanton were able to travel 800 metres beyond chamber 3 to lay out guidelines; previous efforts by Thai Navy Seals had reached only 250 metres beyond chamber 3. The terrain was uneven and there were numerous blockages and obstructions to navigate. On 2 July, having reached 1500 metres beyond chamber 3, they surfaced to find the football team marooned on a ledge above the water.

John VOLANTHEN Thai cave rescue, 26 June – 11 July 2018 John Volanthen arrived in Thailand on 26 June at the request of the Thai authorities to help at-

tempt the rescue of 12 junior footballers and their coach, who had been lost in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex in Chiang Rai Province since 23 June. His first significant contribution, on 28 June, was his reconnaissance dive upstream with John Volanthen through three completely flooded sections of passage to what later was designated as chamber 3. Here they assisted four Thai rescue workers who had been cut off by the rising water levels, which continued to rise.

Further exploration on 29 and 30 June had to be abandoned at chamber 3 as a result of strong water currents and poor visibility of around a metre. On 1 July, Volanthen and Stanton were able to travel 800 metres beyond chamber 3 to lay out guidelines; previous efforts by Thai Navy Seals had reached only 250 metres beyond chamber 3. The terrain was uneven and there were numerous blockages and obstructions to navigate. On 2 July, having reached 1500 metres beyond chamber 3, they surfaced to find the football team marooned on a ledge above the water.

Queen’s Gallantry Medal

Christopher JEWELL Thai cave rescue, 26 June – 11 July 2018 Chris Jewell arrived in Thailand on 5 July to help in the rescue of 12 junior footballers and their coach, who had been lost in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex in Chiang Rai Province since 23 June. The children had been located on 2 July. Jewell was part of a diving team who brought supplies through the cave system to the boys, monitored their health, helped to map the route and helped to plan a method of rescue.

Two days later, after careful planning and once the Thai authorities had agreed to a diving rescue, Jewell was one of four core recovery divers in the team, who worked over the next three days to extract the sedated boys from Chamber 9, where they were stranded,

back to chamber 3 where they were handed over to a military medical team. He was responsible for bringing out three of the boys. During Jewell’s final rescue trip, he lost his grip on the dive line and spent four minutes adrift with one of the young boys before finding his way to safety. The rescue was completed successfully on 11 July.

Jason MALLINSON Thai cave rescue, 26 June – 11 July 2018 Jason Mallinson arrived in Thailand on 5 July to help in the rescue of 12 junior footballers and their coach, who had been lost in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex in Chiang Rai Province since 23 June. The children had been located on 2 July. Mallinson was part of a diving team who brought supplies through the cave system to the boys, monitored their health, helped to map the route and helped to plan a method of rescue.

Two days later, after careful planning and once the Thai authorities had agreed to a diving rescue, Mallinson was one of four core recovery divers in the team, who worked over the next three days to extract the sedated boys from chamber 9, where they were stranded, back to chamber 3 where they were handed over to a military medical team. He was responsible for bringing out three boys; including the first and last boy to be rescued, plus their coach. During the last rescue, the child’s allotted full face mask did not fit properly, so Mallinson had to make the critical decision to use a different type of mask of lesser security, rather than leave the boy behind. This entailed a much slower and more cautious exit, and increased the risk and complexity of the process. The rescue was completed successfully on 11 July.

Firefighter Wayne ANSELL, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Firefighter Simon BEST, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Crew Commander Daniel COOPER, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Firefighter Ricky DAVIS, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Firefighter Christopher MEADOWS, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Firefighter Radosław Przemysław PEJKA, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Simon WADDINGHAM,

Firefighter, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service For rescuing elderly residents of a care home in Cheshunt, 8 April 2017 On 8 April 2017, there was a serious fire at a care home in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, which had 35 elderly residents.

Of these residents, 5 were centenarians, another was blind and 29 were immobile. Initially, the fire appeared to be in its early stages but once inside the property it became clear that the fire was travelling with great ferocity through the roof void covering the whole care home and time was of the essence.

Evacuation was not an option, so a full scale rescue was embarked upon. When the breathing apparatus crews entered the burning building the stairs, first floor landing and corridor were free from fire and smoke, however conditions deteriorated quickly as a result of the fire in the roof void escalating. Firefighters rescued residents by carrying them down the stairs and repeatedly went back into the building to rescue more and more people. Soon the first floor corridor become heavily smoke-logged and more debris was dropping down from the roof space. It was also evident that the temperature had increased significantly. Firefighters found casualties in every room, many in bed, unable to move due to disabilities.

They had to use their own bodies as shields to protect the casualties as the flaming debris fell. Every firefighter repeatedly re-entered the care home, with little regard for their own safety, knowing that had they not, the loss of life would have been catastrophic.

Queen’s Commendation For Bravery

Joe ROWLANDS For rescuing his father from drowning, 22 February 2018 On 22 February 2018, 13-year-old Joe Rowlands and his father Paul were kayaking from Lligwy beach (Treath Lligwy) to Dulas Island (Ynys Dulas), a distance of about 1.5 miles off-shore. En route, the

kayak started to take in water, which resulted in the craft capsizing, leaving Joe and Paul in the water. They were unable to right and re-board the kayak.

Paul instructed Joe to stay on top of the kayak while he attempted to push the craft to a rock to the east of Duals Island named Carreg Allan. After swimming for approximately 30 minutes, Paul began to suffer the effects of the cold water immersion and decided to abandon the kayak. His plan was for them to swim to Carreg Allan, approximately half a mile away.

By then, Paul had been in the water for some time and was struggling to swim. Joe reached the rocks of Carreg Allan but Paul lost consciousness before reaching the rocks. Joe became aware that his father was in difficulty and re-entered the water to swim approximately 100 metres to rescue him. On reaching his father, Joe discovered that he was face down in the water and unresponsive. He towed him back to Carreg Allan, dragging him up on the rocks to a place of safety. He then attempted to give him chest compressions, followed by mouth to mouth resuscitation in an attempt to revive him. He continued to perform resuscitation, after which his father started to breathe and regained consciousness.

By this time, the rocks at Carreg Allan were starting to be submerged by the rising tide. Joe realised the danger of remaining there and decided to move his father to Ynys Dulas Island, a distance of approximately 100 metres. On reaching Dulas Island, Joe proceeded to negotiate rocks on the shoreline in order to reach a stone tower where his father would be protected from the strong winds.

Joe and Paul were picked up by Moelfre Lifeboat, having been reported missing. They had spent about two and a half hours sheltering in the tower, during which Joe kept talking to his father to prevent him from drifting back into unconsciousness. They were transferred to hospital and diagnosed as suffering from severe hypothermia. Paul was in a state of atrial fibrillation (irregular and abnormally fast heartbeat). The Coastguard confirmed that had they not been found, they were not likely to have survived more than another half an hour.

5

AUSTRALIA

New Communities To Ease Housing Demand And Create Jobs

TL Bureau Melbourne: The Andrews Labor Government is boosting land supply and making housing more affordable, with two new communities in Melbourne’s northwest.

Newly approved communities of Sunbury South and Lancefield Road will provide 19,000 homes and 6,000 jobs close to schools, trains and upgraded roads.

This fulfils the Labor Government’s commitment to ensure a 15-year land supply by planning for an additional 100,000 lots to deliver affordable new housing and high-quality jobs.

The communities will be developed gradually over a 20-year period, with about 1,000 new houses expected to be built in the next five years.

The new communities are located over 2,800 hectares of land with almost 40 per cent open space including a new regional park, a new conservation network along the Jacksons Creek corridor and a reserve at Redstone Hill.

Plans include four local town centres, health and emergency service facilities, six new primary schools, two secondary schools, and one prep-to-12 school.

Land has been set aside for two future train stations, two new bridge crossings of Jacksons Creek and three grade-separated road crossings of the rail line.

These plans are part of the Labor Government’s Homes for Victorians strategy to unlock land and provide affordable new homes in well-planned communities.

All land is within the Urban Growth Boundary and was reserved for urban development a decade ago. Infrastructure Contributions Plans ensure developers contribute to local infrastructure such as roads, parks and community facilities, while Growth Areas Infrastructure Contributions paid by landowners contribute to state infrastructure such as schools, emergency services and public transport.

WA Motorsport Strategy consultation period extended TL Bureau Perth : WA Motorsport Strategy to be released early 2019 as industry consultation continues State Government to continue working with peak bodies and local governments to determine framework to develop trackbased motorsport in WA The consultation period for the WA Motorsport Strategy has been extended following strong interest from peak bodies and other stakeholders towards guiding the industry’s future. The State Government has been developing the strategy in consultation with industry during 2018 and will participate in further discussions before its release in early 2019. The strategy will identify the infrastructure needs of track-based motorsport activities across Western Australia, develop a hierarchy of motorsport facilities, and plan for future investment and opportunities to increase participation. It considers Wanneroo (Barbagallo) Raceway, Collie Motorplex, Perth Motorplex, KalgoorlieBoulder, a proposed facility in Albany and a potential new private facility in Keysbrook, among other areas.

Close calls in Territory parks as walkers ignore heat warnings

TL Bureau Darwin: Territory park rangers are pleading with visitors to take notice of severe heat warnings in Central Australia after several walkers underestimated conditions over the weekend.

On Friday, three adults from the Philippines and a three year old suffered heat stress when they failed to take enough water while on a walk at Standley Chasm in the middle of the day in 45 degree heat.

While in another incident, a couple from Melbourne took a wrong turn at Simpsons Gap and ended up on longer trail with only 600mls of water between them.

With the temperature expected to stay over 40 degrees for the remain-

der of the week in the Centre, rangers are asking visitors to re-think their walk altogether.

“With the temperature sticking over 40 degrees we are asking visitors to Central Australian parks to consider postponing their walks or to walk very early in the morning when it’s cooler,” said Kristen Hay, Acting Senior Director Parks and Wildlife Operations.

“Walking during extreme heat can be dangerous even deadly.

“Even if you are an experienced walker you must take precautions when visiting Territory parks. Walking in hot weather can result in heat exhaustion, which may progress to a potentially fatal heat stroke.

“If you must go for a walk, Beat

the Heat and stay cool, stay hydrated and stay alive.

“If you do find yourself feeling unwell on a walk or disorientated, stop. Rest in the shade, drink water and stay there.

“Always carry plenty of water and food and drink regularly even if you don’t feel thirsty. You should drink at least one litre of water per hour when outside, per person.

“Tell someone where you are going and plan your route well including downloading maps and other offline tracking apps prior to your departure. “Make sure you leave early in the day and wear sunscreen as well as light coloured clothes, long sleeves and a hat and take fruit or energy bars with you for snacks.”

Extra disaster help for Queensland communities hit by bushfires TL Bureau Brisbane: Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford today announced additional disaster assistance for communities affected by the devastating bushfires in Central Queensland in November and December.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Assistant Minister Reynolds, who has responsibility for Commonwealth disaster assistance, said a Category C Community Recovery Package is being made available to provide further support for community recovery.

“The bushfires have had a dev-

astating impact on the lives of many Queenslanders and today’s announcement will go some way to ensuring the social fabric of our communities is restored,” Assistant Minister Reynolds said.

“The Category C Package also includes funding to build community resilience through a range of information and education initiatives to help people understand how they can better prepare for and respond to bushfire events.

“The Commonwealth and Queensland governments will continue to work together to ensure affected communities receive the support and assistance they need to recover during this difficult time.”

Mr Crawford said many communities, particularly those directly affected by bushfires, had been left traumatised and in need of ad-

ditional mental health support.

“Targeted specialist mental health support, including access to specialists, mental health awareness programs and clinical interventions for children and young people, will be rolled out across affected communities to help people who are suffering,” Mr Crawford said.

“The Package will also support the longer-term recovery effort through the engagement of Community Development Officers to work with affected communities and identify how best to support the recovery effort going forward.

“Other recovery initiatives under the package include community led recovery and resilience grants and funding clean-up and reinstatement activities. Further information on these programs will be released shortly.”

Further arrests over record WA illicit cigarette seizure TL Bureau.

Perth: Australian Border Force (ABF) Investigators have charged two more men in relation to the alleged importation of a record 9.5 million illicit cigarettes into Western Australia in October 2018.

A 25-year-old Victorian man was due to appear in the Geraldton Magistrates Court today following his arrest by WA Police Force officers yesterday.

The ABF had issued an alert for the man as a result of investigations into the seizure.

The man attended the Gerald-

ton Police Station yesterday (Thursday 27 December) in connection with an unrelated matter and was arrested on the ABF Warrant.

He has been charged with one count of Importing Tobacco Products with the Intention of Defrauding the Revenue under section 233BABAD (1) of the Customs Act 1901.

Three persons have now been charged over the seizure.

As stated in the ABF Media Release dated 5 November 2018, the first man was arrested and charged on

2 November 2018.

The second person charged, a 36 year old Morley man, was arrested on 13 November 2018.

He was also charged with one count of Importing Tobacco Products with the Intention of Defrauding the Revenue under section 233BABAD (1) of the Customs Act 1901.

He appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on 14 November and was released on conditional bail to reappear on 18 January 2018. The investigation into the seizure continues.

6 THE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT The Queen has been pleased, on the celebration of

the New Year, to make the following appointments to The New Zealand Order of Merit: TL Bureau. Wellington: GNZM To be a Knight Grand Companion of the said Order: Sir Stephen Robert Tindall, KNZM, of Auckland. For services to business, the community, and the environment.

DNZM To be Dames Companion of the said Order: Distinguished Professor Margaret Anne Brimble, CNZM, of Auckland. For services to science.

Ms Diana Buchanan Crossan, of Wellington. For services to the State.

Ms Kerry Leigh Prendergast, CNZM, JP, of Wellington. For services to governance and the community.

Ms Gaylene Mary Preston, ONZM, of Wellington. For services to film.

KNZM To be Knights Companion of the said Order: Dr Ian Bruce Hassall, of Auckland. For services to the welfare of children.

Mr Robert Arnold McLeod, of Auckland. For services to business and Māori.

Mr Timothy Richard Shadbolt, JP, of Invercargill. For services to local government and the community.

Mr Robert Kinsela Workman, QSO, of Levin. For services to prisoner welfare and the justice sector.

CNZM To be Companions of the said Order: Mr Philip Frederick Bagshaw, of Christchurch. For services to health.

Professor Margaret Ann Bedggood, QSO, of Auckland. For services to human rights law.

Ms Barbara Joan Chapman, of Auckland. For services to business.

Professor Peter Roy Crampton, of Dunedin. For services to education and health sciences.

Ms Carmel Miringa Fisher, of Auckland. For services to business.

Lieutenant General Timothy James Keating, MNZM, (Rtd.), of Lower Hutt. For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Ms Barbara Anne Kendall, MBE, of Whangaparoa. For services to sport.

Mr Owen Thomas Mapp, of Paraparaumu. For services to Māori carving and bone art.

Major Alfred Campbell Roberts, of Auckland. For services to the community.

Mrs Andrée Elizabeth Talbot, of Auckland. For services to the Plunket Society.

Ms Jennifer Cecily Ward-Lealand, ONZM, of Auckland. For services to theatre, film and television.

ONZM To be Officers of the said Order: Mr Malcolm James Prentice Black, of Auckland. For services to the music industry.

Mr Robert Falconer Campbell, of Auckland. For services to the wine industry.

Mrs Lindsay Griffiths Corban, JP, of Auckland. For services to governance.

Mr Ronald Crichton, of Christchurch. For services to Paralympic sport.

Dr David Gordon Crum, of Christchurch. For services to dentistry.

Dr Dianne Margaret Elliott (Dianne Sharp), of Auckland. For services to Ophthalmology.

Mr Murray Edward Fenton, of Auckland. For services to design and business.

Dr Ian Robert Hall, of Dunedin. For services to mycology and agri-business.

Mr Robert Andrew Hamilton, of Auckland. For services to business.

Ms Shirley Yeta Horrocks, of Auckland. For services to documentary filmmaking.

Mr William Russell Howie, of Nelson. For services to environmental resource management.

Dr Michael Robert Johnston, of Nelson. For services to geological science and history.

Ms Diane Jean Lucas, of Christchurch. For services to conservation.

Ms Kristy Pearl McDonald, QC, of Wellington. For services to the law and governance.

Dr Jennifer Anne McMahon, MBE, of Dunedin. For services to the Red Cross.

Ms Frances Ann O’Sullivan, of Auckland. For services to journalism and business.

Mr Rore Stafford, of Otorohanga. For services to Māori.

Mr Ahmed Hassan Tani, of Christchurch. For services to refugee communities.

Mr Robert Gerard Tapert, of Auckland. For services to the film and television industries.

Mr Thomas Dawson Thomson, of Christchurch. For services to the manufacturing industry, philanthropy and the community.

Ms Maryanne Jennifer Tipler, of Picton. For services to mathematics education.

Associate Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh, of Auckland. For services to poetry, literature and the Pacific community.

Professor Adrianus Marie Van Rij, of Dunedin. For services to health, particularly vascular surgery.

MNZM To be Members of the said Order: Mrs Vaine Arai Areora, of Auckland. For services to the Cook Islands community and sport.

Mr Glenn Thomas Ashby, of McCrae, Australia. For services to sailing.

Ms Luisa Avaiki, of Auckland. For services to rugby league.

Mr Quentin Mountfield Bennett, of Napier. For services to optometry, diving and conservation.

Ms Carole Anne Beu, of Auckland. For services to the literary industry.

Mr Edmund Bohan, of Christchurch. For services to music, historical research and literature.

Mr Robert Allan Brooke, of Auckland. For services to education and heritage preservation.

Mrs Valerie Ann Burrell, of Te Puke. For services to the community and horticulture.

Associate Professor Andrew Brian Connolly, of Auckland. For services to health.

Mr Malcolm Cowie, of Auckland. For services to football.

Ms Rae Crossley Croft, of Auckland. For services as a violinist.

Ms Ingrid Joy Culliford, of Whanganui. For services to music and education.

Mr Rex Clifton Davy, of Auckland. For services to rugby and the community.

Ms Gina Rosanne Dellabarca, of Auckland. For services to the film industry.

Mr Paul Vincent Ellis, of Christchurch. For services to music.

Ms Lani Beth Evans, of Porirua. For services to social enterprise.

Mrs Annette Cherie Fale, of Auckland. For services to youth and Pacific peoples.

Mr Tanu Daniel Gago, of Auckland. For services to art and the LGBTIQ+ community.

Mr Barry Robert Gardiner, of Christchurch. For services to sport, particularly squash.

Ms Rosalie Maria Goldsworthy, of Palmerston. For services to wildlife conservation.

Mr Glen Norman Green, of Auckland. For services to youth and sport.

Mrs Elizabeth Sarah Harford, of Lower Hutt. For services to palliative care.

Sergeant Arthur John Harris, of Invercargill. For services to the New Zealand Police and the community.

Dr Rosemary Collinge Hipkins, of Kapiti. For services to science education.

Mr Alan Frank Hitchens, of Tauranga. For services to journalism and the community.

Mrs Daphne Annette Hull, QSM, of Alexandra. For services to tourism and recreation.

Ms Denise Pamela Hutchins, ED, of Nelson. For services as a Justice of the Peace and to the health sector.

Mrs Gerda Christine Sophie Johnson (Kitty Johnson), of Hastings. For services to outdoor recreation and support for people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Professor Barbara Alison Jones, of Auckland. For services to education and sociology research.

Mrs Ruxmani Vanmali Kasanji, of Wellington. For services to the Indian community.

Ms Laurie Tamati Ngarue Sadler Keung (Laurie Wharemate-Keung), of Auckland. For services to children.

Mrs Elizabeth Mary King, of Auckland. For services to aviation.

Mrs Wana Joelle King, of Cambridge. For services to squash.

Ms Bogyung Ko (Lydia Ko), of Kissimmee, Florida, United States of America. For services to golf.

Ms Margaret Joy Kouvelis, of Palmerston North. For services to local government and education.

Mrs Roberta Hannah Laraman, of Cromwell. For services to tourism and heritage preservation.

Mrs Joan Lardner-Rivlin, QSM, of Auckland. For services to seniors.

Professor Peter James Lineham, of Auckland. For services to religious history and the community.

Mr Peter Stevenson Little, of Carterton. For services to Māori land development and administration.

Mrs Fay Looney, of New Plymouth. For services to the arts, particularly photography.

Mrs Vinka Dragica Lucas, of Auckland. For services to the fashion industry and design.

Ms Terry Isobel MacTavish, of Dunedin. For services to theatre and education.

Ms Vivien Rae Maidaborn, of Wellington. For services to human rights and social entrepreneurship.

Ms Heidi Melissa Mardon, of Hamilton. For services to environmental education.

Ms Celeste Mojo Mathers, of Geraldine. For services to people with disabilities.

Professor Tracey Kathleen Dorothy McIntosh, of Auckland. For services to education and social science.

Dr Karlo Estelle Mila, of Auckland. For services to the Pacific community and as a poet.

Dr Arbutus Mitikulena, of Wellington. For services to health and the Pacific community.

Mr William Hugh Moran, of Queenstown. For services to the State, sport and youth.

Ms Jennifer Patricia Morris, OAM, of Potts Point, Australia. For services to music and charity fundraising.

Dr Paula Jane Kiri Morris, of Auckland. For services to literature.

Mr Simon George Mortlock, of Lyttelton. For services to the community and education.

Dr Susan Mary Bennett Morton, of Auckland. For services to epidemiology and public health research.

Mr Philip James Newbury, of Invercargill. For services to glass art.

Mr Pouroto Nicholas Hamilton Ngaropo, JP, of Whakatane. For services to Māori and governance.

Mr Thomas Michael O’Connor, JP, of St Andrews. For services to seniors, local government and journalism.

Mrs Kerry Louise Owen, of North Salt Lake, Utah, United States of America. For services to children.

Ms Raewyn Margery Peart, of Auckland. For services to environmental and conservation policy.

Mrs Cushla-Mary Piesse, of Christchurch. For services to Highland dancing.

Emeritus Professor Thomas Kenneth Prebble, of Palmerston North. For services to tertiary education.

Mrs Anne Patricia Rodger, of Dunedin. For services to women.

Mrs Georgina Hera Salter, of Oamaru. For services to netball.

Deceased. Her Majesty’s approval of this award took effect on 27 November 2018, prior to the date of decease.

Ms Fiona Samuel, of Auckland. For services to television and theatre.

Ms Sharon Norma Shea, of Auckland. For services to Māori health and development.

Professor Emeritus Ivan Augustine Snook, of Palmerston North. For services to education.

Deceased. Her Majesty’s approval of this award took effect on 18 October 2018, prior to the date of decease.

Mr Paul Stanleigh Spiller, of Auckland. For services to chess.

Ms Wendy Sporle, of Kaitaia. For services to kiwi conservation.

Ms Karen Louise Staples, of Auckland. For services to the food industry.

Dr James Robert Garfield Stewart, of Pauanui. For services to children with genetic immune deficiency disorders.

Mrs Ava Marisha Strong, of Thames. For services to karate and the community.

Mr Lance Allan Strong, of Thames. For services to karate and the community.

Mr Vic Henery Tamati, of Auckland.

NZ AND OTHER OCEANIA

STRONG PACIFIC CONTRIBUTION CELEBRATED IN NEW YEAR’S HONOURS

TL Bureau Wellington: “Pacific women feature strongly in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list in recognition of their diverse contribution to Pacific Aotearoa in a range of fields including literature, fashion, mental health, youth development, sports, leadership and governance,” says Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.

NZ disappointed at Japan’s decision to leave International Whaling Commission TL Bureau Wellington : Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says Japan’s position in the International Whaling Commission was discussed with his Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Taro Kono.

“While we seriously welcome the announcement that Japan will cease whaling in the Southern Ocean, we are disappointed it is leaving the Commission with an intention to resume commercial whaling within Japan’s own exclusive economic zone,” Mr Peters said.

“Japan is a valued supporter of the international rules-based system and we had hoped Japan would choose to stay in the Commission.

“Our women have traditionally been the backbone of our diverse Pacific communities and the New Year’s honours list once again reflects that they continue to be the strength of Pacific society today.

Associate Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh has received the ONZM for services to poetry, literature and the Pacific community.

“Dr Marsh’s 2009 book the ‘Fast

Talking PI’ and her ‘Unity’ poem, which she recited in front of the Royal Family at London’s Westminister Abbey for the 2016 Commonwealth Service are stand out pieces of work that put her in a class of her own, as a new-age trailblazer and a modern-day navigator in the field of poetry and literature in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific region.

NZ CONTRIBUTING $1.5 MILLION TOWARDS SUNDA STRAIT TSUNAMI RECOVERY TL Bureau Wellington : New Zealand is contributing $1.5 million to help recovery efforts following the devastating tsunami that struck the Sunda Strait, in Indonesia, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.

The funding is being directed to the International Federation of the Red Cross (ICRC) Emergency Appeal.

“As a near neighbour and close friend of Indonesia, New Zealand understands the dreadful aftermath of this tsunami which compounds a number of significant disasters that have impacted Indonesia in recent months,” Mr Peters says.

Over the last six months, Indonesia has suffered three significant events, the Lombok earthquakes in July and

August, the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami in September and now the Sunda Strait tsunami on 22 December.

“This Red Cross Emergency Appeal is considered as an overarching appeal to support the Indonesian Red Cross – Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) – to deliver assistance and support to the most vulnerable communities affected by these disasters, and to help these communities be better prepared for similar disasters that may happen in the future,” Mr Peters says.

This support will allow the Indonesian Red Cross, which is working alongside the Indonesian Government, to deliver essential humanitarian assistance to an estimated 167,000 people affected by this latest tsunami over the next 30 months.

Exporters first to benefit as CPTPP takes effect today TL Bureau Wellington: New Zealand exporters are among the first to benefit from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership which takes effect today.

“The CPTPP provides New Zealand with trade agreements for the first time with three significant economies: Japan, Canada and Mexico,” Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker said.

“Tariffs in those countries will start to reduce from today. Mexico and Canada will cut tariffs again on 1 January 2019 giving a further boost to the competitiveness of New Zealand products in those markets.”

“When Viet Nam joins the Agreement on 14 January 2019, it will make an immediate double tariff cut to catch up. Japan’s second tariff cut will take place three months later on 1 April 2019,” David Parker said.

“The CPTPP has the potential to deliver an estimated $222 million of tariff savings to New Zealand exporters annually once it is fully in

force, with almost half of that - or $105 million - now available in the first 12 months.

“This will benefit New Zealand workers and businesses from Kaitaia to Bluff.

“For example, one of the key exports from Northland is fisheries products. Currently our fish and fish products face tariffs of 20 per cent into Mexico for some lines, and tariffs of up to 10 per cent in Japan. The CPTPP will see all tariffs eliminated on fisheries exports, with the majority of savings from today. “The Bay of Plenty, which accounts for 79 per cent of New Zealand’s kiwifruit production and is also our largest producer of avocados, stands to gain too with these tariffs disappearing immediately across the CPTPP region.

“Our biggest wine region, Marlborough, will benefit as all tariffs on New Zealand wine will be eliminated into CPTPP markets over time, including immediate duty free access into Canada – our fourth

largest wine export market,” David Parker said.

“Mid-Canterbury farmers supply 50 per cent of the world’s radish seeds and a third of the world’s carrot seeds. They will also gain as tariffs on horticultural exports including seeds are eliminated within 15 years under CPTPP. “The Otago region produces almost half of all New Zealand’s summer fruits. CPTPP will see total tariff elimination on summer fruits, including cherries, for which the tariffs into Japan will be eliminated within six years.

“We have also notified signatories that investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims challenging tobacco control measures cannot be made against New Zealand.

“This is in keeping with the Government’s view on ISDS. It is a further measure, alongside suspensions and side letters, to reduce the risk of successful ISDS cases being brought against New Zealand under CPTPP,” David Parker said.

7

BUSINESS

CHRISTMAS SPLURGE SET TO CONTINUE INTO NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS

TL Bureau.

Sydney: Aussie partygoers are expected to spend big this New Year, following a year-on-year upward trend in last minute spending. In a media release issued by Commonwealth Bank of Australia It is disclosed that Aussies spent a total of $160 million across 2017/18 New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations New Year’s Eve transactions have almost doubled (up 47 per cent) since 2015/16 Commonwealth Bank data reveals customers spent an incredible $95 million on New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2017/18, a 9 per cent increase on the previous year, and $15 million

more than in 2015. With Aussies increasingly reaching for their digital wallets at the checkout, the number of transactions has also almost doubled since 2015 (up 47 per cent).

2018 New Year’s Day celebrations were not far behind with a total of $65 million spent last year, and the number of transactions increasing 38 per cent year-on-year.

Michael Baumann, Executive General Manager Everyday Banking, says: “Aussies are taking advantage of the ease and convenience of digital payments and we’ve seen an increase in New Year spending each year.

While New Year is a time for celebration, it’s also a time to watch those discretionary ‘tap and pay’ items that

can creep up on us.

“To save yourself from having a money hangover, a spending plan or tracking your spending on the CommBank app can help you manage these costs. Other small steps like taking public transport outside of peak traffic times and stocking up on groceries to eat in can easily reduce costs without taking away from your celebrations.”

Over the two milestone days last year, CBA customers spent approximately $78 million on shopping, $54 million on dining, $6.2 million on travel (including taxis and limousines), and $13.8 million on entertainment. These numbers are expected to again increase over

2018/19 celebrations.

While it’s great to celebrate with family and friends, New Year ’s Eve celebrations can be costly, especially so soon after Christmas.

CBA’s top tips for avoiding a budget blow-out this New Year: Have a budget and stick to it Take advantage of public transport in off-peak times Stock your fridge with groceries well in advance and eat in Keep on top of your spending with the tools available in the CommBank app, like the Spend Tracker feature or opt-in to receive Spending Notifications every time you use your card.

TPP-11 kicks-off, delivering benefits for Aussie farmers and businesses

TL Bureau.

Canberra : Australian farmers, businesses and investors will now benefit from new trade and investment opportunities with the Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP-11) Agreement starting today.

From today, Australian exporters will get immediate tariff reductions and better access in new markets across the Americas and Asia, with further tariff reductions also set to take place on 1 January 2019.

It is one of the most comprehensive and ambitious trade agreements ever concluded and will eliminate more than 98 per cent of tariffs in a trade zone worth $13.8 trillion in GDP and a market of around 500 million consumers.

Independent modelling shows Australia is forecast to see $15.6 billion in net annual benefits to national income by 2030 from the TPP-11.

The TPP-11 is Australia’s first trade

The TPP-11 is Australia’s first trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, and Australian exporters and investors will benefit from new opportunities in those two markets, as well as improved opportunities in other key international markets including Japan. agreement with Canada and Mexico, and Australian exporters and investors will benefit from new opportunities in those two markets, as well as improved opportunities in other key international markets including Japan.

It will eliminate or substantially lower tariffs on many of Australia’s key goods exports including wine, beef, dairy, wheat, sugar, and manufactured

goods such as leather products, paper and medical equipment.

The TPP-11 builds on the success our government has had in opening up new export pathways for Australian businesses. New trade deals have also come into effect with China, Japan and South Korea under our Liberal-National Government.

Importantly, these deals

are yielding results with Australia having recorded trade surpluses for 21 of the last 24 months, reversing a long running trend of monthly trade deficits.

It’s hard to believe Labor would have walked away when the US walked out on the TPP rather than staying and getting the best possible deal for our farmers and businesses.

What’s even more concerning is that during their national conference earlier this month, Bill Shorten and Labor endorsed a trade policy that in bowing to union demands would make it next to impossible for a Labor Government to secure more export opportunities for Australia’s farmers and businesses.

Only the Liberal-National Government can be trusted to deliver trade agreements that open new markets for Australian exporters, create certainty for Australian businesses, strengthen our economy and create more jobs.

8

FEATURE

Brain scans help predict drug relapse, Stanford researchers find In a small trial, brain scans revealed who was most at risk of relapsing after being treated for addiction to stimulants like amphetamines or cocaine. The finding could identify people who need help staying drug-free

BY NATHAN COLLINS California: Predicting who will remain drug-free and who will relapse following treatment for drug addiction has been impossible – so far. Now, Stanford psychologists think they’ve found a possible clue.

For stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines, at least, activity in the brain’s reward-processing circuits could be the key.

The study, published Dec. 28 in JAMA Network Open, found that brain scan data could correctly predict who would and would not relapse about threequarters of the time, a significant improvement over past efforts. The project was part of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute’s NeuroChoice Initiative, which seeks to understand the causes of and treatments for addiction.

Kelly MacNiven, a postdoctoral fellow and lead author on the new paper, stressed that the results are preliminary – she and her colleagues only looked at 36 people, who were all veterans and mostly men. But if the results hold up in other groups, it could help doctors figure out who is likely to relapse and might need more help.

“Even if this doesn’t lead to treatments, we think it could be useful just as a way of determining who’s at most risk,” said Brian Knutson, a professor of psy-

chology in the School of Humanities and Sciences and the paper’s senior author.

Watching the brain watching drugs MacNiven, Knutson and colleagues are not the first to try to predict who might relapse, nor are they the first to look to brain scans for an answer. In the past, doctors have tried to use clinical observations, demographic data such as how long someone has used a drug and patient reports such as feelings of craving a drug to predict relapse, with little success. Building on brain research in animals, psychologists have also tried to identify brain activity that might predict relapse in humans, but again without much success.

“The results have been scattered,” said Knutson, who is also a member of Stanford Bio-X and the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.

With that in mind, the researchers took a slightly different approach to their brain scans than others had. They started with fMRI scans of 36 people who were participating in a 28-day residential treatment program for veterans with stimulant use disorders, along with 40 healthy people recruited from the surrounding community. During each scan, study participants viewed a series of images of things like food, office supplies and, importantly, drugs and drug para-

phernalia as they would in other studies.

After the participants left treatment, the team then followed up at one, three and six months with interviews and, in some cases, drug tests to find out if any of the patients had relapsed.

The key difference between this study and previous approaches was in how the team presented the images. Unlike past efforts, the images were presented largely at random, so that participants wouldn’t become inured to one or another type of image. In addition, each image was preceded by a cue that indicated which type of image was about to appear, a choice designed to increase anticipation for what was about to come.

Predicting relapse Compared to healthy people, drug rehabilitation patients’ brains responded more to the drug images, particularly in a set of brain regions known as the mesolimbic system, known colloquially as the brain’s reward processing system.

What’s more, activity in one part of the reward system – a region called the nucleus accumbens – was strongly associated with relapse three months later. Using just activity in the nucleus accumbens, the team could correctly identify 77 percent of the patients who relapsed by three months. That’s a significant improvement over other methods for pre-

dicting relapse, which don’t do much better than chance, MacNiven said.

The researchers also found that the more the nucleus accumbens responded to drug images, the sooner patients relapsed. Of the patients with the smallest nucleus accumbens response, 76 percent made it past three months without a relapse. In comparison, only 38 percent of those with the largest response made it to three months.

Hope for the future MacNiven, Knutson and colleagues are exploring a number of next steps, the most important of which is extending their research to include more women – only two made it into the patient group in the current study. The team is also looking into ways it could use the results to guide treatment strategies, for example by providing different kinds of feedback to patients whose brains respond the most to drug images.

But for now, MacNiven said, the most encouraging thing is that doctors may have a new way to figure out who is most at risk for relapse.

“There’s really no way of knowing whether someone is going to benefit from treatment or whether they’ll relapse,” MacNiven said. “If we have a signal that is predictive of relapse, that is in and of itself important.”

9

life & real estate

What to see in the Centre of Thessaloniki

Photo & News Courtesy/visit Greece.

S

tart with Aristotelous Square, the city’s most central square boasting monumental mansions. It is one of the biggest and most impressive squares in Greece offering a view of Thermaikos Gulf. Under clear skies, you can see the Olympus massif in the far distance from the Square.

Stroll down Nikis Avenue across the seafront, extending from the city’s Port (to the W) up to the Statue of Alexander the Great (in the E), lined with many cafés, bars and stores. It is one of the most popular promenade areas for locals and visitors alike.

The White Tower (Lefkos Pyrgos) is the city’s landmark.The 33.9 m. high fortified cylinder tower measuring 22.7 m. in diameter was built under Suleiman I the Magnificent in the 16th century. It was part of the city’s fortification and was later used by the Turks as a place of execution (it was called Kanli Kasteli which means “tower of blood”). It goes by its current name since the 19th century. Inside the Tower, there is an exhibition on Thessaloniki’ s history, from its establishment until 1922.

Visit the Palace of Galerius, comprising the Octagon (the throne chamber) and admire its renowned mosaics, the Galerius arch, known as Kamara, built in 305 BC and the imposing Rotunda, the circular dome roofed building with impressive Early Christian mosaics (late 4th century).

Another site worth visiting is the Ancient Agora (Market place), a trading placefrom the 3rd century BC until the 5th century AD. Discoveries include the city’s Agora (Market place), the Mint, the Odeion, a hall beleived to have been housing the city archives, a part of Valaneio with baths, a tavern and a whore-house, along with many smaller finds. There is an ancient temple and Early Christian tombs (4th -7th century) located under 3rd September Street.

Another interesting place to visit is the Byzantine Bath, close to Koule Kafe Square, dating back to the late 13th century, a rare discovery site of Byzantine Baths.

There are also mosques worth visiting such as the Ishak Pasha Mosque (1484), situated close to Kassandrou Street and the Hamza Bey Mosque(1467) having been destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 1620. The latter is situated at the junction of Egnatia and Venizelou Streets. Bezesteni is located in the Market centre (Venizelou & Solomou Streets) and used to be the trading place for luxurious textiles. It is a rectangular building with four entrances, built

in the late 15th century. The city’s turkish baths include Bey Hamam (1444) on Egnatia Street, Pasha Hamam(1520), Bazaar Hamam and Yeni Hamam. Go for a walk in Kapani and Modiano markets and experience the city’s scents, perfumes and colours.

Don’t forget to visit the Harbour, the Customs house and the warehouses(1910). The buildings have been modified to be used as venues forthe International Film Festival and to house the Cinema Museum and the Photography Museum.

Another very interesting place to see is the Royal Theatre, a 1940 building, nowadays the seat of the National Theatre of Northern Greece. This three-storey building boasts luxurious halls and in it there is one of the most high-tech stages in Europe. It is located on the White Tower Square. Also, the Young Men’s Christian Association of Thessaloniki (XANΘ), on the YMCA square, and the OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) Tower (1969) are located in the premises of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair.

The view from the top of the tower is magnificent.

Make sure to visit Ladadika, the historic neighbourhood, close to Aristotelous Square, that was saved from the 1917 fire.The renovated buildings have in the recent years been converted into restaurants and night clubs.

The city’s central streets namely Mitropoleos, Tsimiski, Ermou

and Egnatia are lined with shops, awaiting customers. As you are visiting the city centre, notice theelite art nouveau buildings and mansions located there as well as the Holocaust Victims Monument dedicated to the memory of the Greek Jews of Thessaloniki who were exterminated by the Germans during the German Occupation.

Other interesting religious sights include: 1) the church of Agios Dimitrios, the city’s Patron Saint, built after 313 AD on the ruins of Roman baths and housing significant Byzantine monuments, even though it was destroyed several times. The Church, (Agios Dimitrios’ place of martyrdom) is a five-aisled Basilica, with a Narthex and a Crypt under the Sanctuary and the transverse Aisle (a present day museum).

2) Acheiropoiitos church. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was built in the 5th century. After the city was conquered by the Turks (1430), it was converted into a mosque. It is the only Basilica preserved in a very good condition in Greece. The church’s interior is decorated with 5th century mosaics and 13th century frescoes.

3) Agios Minas church, dating back to the 5th century, having remained a Christian church even after the city’s conquest.

4) Agia Sophia church, being the city’s Metropolitan Church, built in the 7th century. Part of the murals decorating its interior, its 11th century frescoes in the Narthex

and the 8th-12th century mosaics on the Dome, still exist.

5) Panagia Chalkeon: This is a 1028 church with frescoes dating back to the 11th and 14th centuries.

6) Agios Panteleimonas church, built during the late 13th - early 14th century by the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Iakovos.

7) The Agioi Apostoloi church,an imposing edifice built in 13101314, converted into a mosque in the period 1520-1530. The mosaics and frescoes date to the period of the Palaiologos line of emperors.

8) The Sotiras Chapel, dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ, is decorated with frescoes dating to the 14th century.

9) Nea Panagia church, athreeaisled Basilica with spaces reserved for women and a gallery at the west side of thechurch.

10) Agios Haralampos church, used to be a dependency of the Mount Athos Simonopetra Monastery, featuring 17th-19th century icons, being fine examples of the Mt. Athos religious icon painting technique.

11) Laodigitria church, built in the 14th century and renovated in 1802. Icons of the 18th and 19th centuries can be seen in this church.

12) Panagouda, being a postByzantine Church, dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin Mary, featuring a 16th century icon.

13) Ypapanti church, boasting small works of art and a history going back to 1531.

10

SPORTS

Kohli, Rabada end notable year on top TL Bureau.

London : India captain Virat Kohli and South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada have maintained their top positions in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings at the year-end after 2018 saw them achieve several milestones including from the rankings perspective.

• Bumrah, Cummins and Olivier among bowlers to move up; career-bests for Nicholls, Babar and Pant Kohli dropped three points despite a first innings score of 82 in the third Test in Melbourne, but still enjoys a 34-point lead over Kane Williamson. Kohli, who attained a career-high 937 points during the year, which is the highest ever by an India batsman, scored 1322 runs in all. Kohli overtook Steven Smith in August and has now held the top position for 135 days. Rabada, who split the top rank-

ing with England’s seasoned fast bowler James Anderson during the year, is just six points ahead of his adversary. Rabada, who became the youngest to take top position among bowlers during the year and held the spot for 178 days during the year, grabbed six wickets in the opening match at Centurion that South Africa won by six wickets to finish with 52 wickets in 10 Tests in 2018.

Kohli’s compatriot Cheteshwar Pujara has maintained the fourth position after a firstinnings century in Melbourne, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has gained 10 slots to reach a career-best 38th position while debutant opener Mayank Agarwal has entered the batsmen’s list at an impressive 67th place after scores of 76 and 42 helped his side win by 137 runs for a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

NEW ZEALAND ADVANCE TO

3RD

IN TEST RANKINGS

TL Bureau Christchurch: New Zealand won their fourth consecutive Test series and finish the year on 107 points, two points ahead of South Africa, whom they have overtaken.

New Zealand have overtaken South Africa to take third place in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings after completing a 1-0 win over Sri Lanka in their two-Test series.

The home side, which won the second Test in Christchurch by a record 423 runs, reaped the dividends of a fourth consecutive Test series win to finish the year at 107 points.

They started the series with 105 points and could have gone up to 109 points and second place had they won both matches against Sri Lanka. However, fourth-placed South Africa, who lead 1-0 in an ongoing three-Test series against Pakistan, can reach 110 points and second spot by blanking the opposition.

India, who lead 2-1 after three matches of their fourTest series in Australia, remain at the top of the yearend rankings with 116 points. England are second with 108 points and Australia fifth on 102 points.

ICC announces women’s ODI and T20I teams of the year TL Bureau.

London: New Zealand’s Suzie Bates was named as captain of the 50-over side and Harmanpreet Kaur of India appointed captain of the 20-over side.

• Suzie Bates and Harmanpreet Kaur named ODI and T20I captains, respectively • Bangladesh’s Rumana Ahmed and Sana Mir of Pakistan also named in the squads • Bates, Healy, Mandhana and Yadav feature in both the ODI and T20I squads • Downloadable video clips of Bates and Kaur are available on the Online Media Zone

The International Cricket Council today announced the women’s ODI and T20I teams of the year with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates named as captain of

the 50-over side and Harmanpreet Kaur of India appointed captain of the 20-over side.

The two sides have been selected by the same voting acad-

emy*, which comprised members of the media and broadcasters who also voted for the annual women’s individual awards to be announced later today, and took into consideration player performances in the 2018 calendar year.

Bates’ appointment as the ODI captain is a recognition of her contribution in inspiring her side to second position in the ICC Women’s Championship after three rounds. In the seven ODIs this calendar year, Bates has scored 438 runs with two centuries and a half-century. Bates is pres-

ently ranked seventh in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s Players Rankings for ODI Batters.

Kaur has been rewarded for spearheading her side to the semi-final of the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 in the Caribbean in November.

In that tournament, Kaur scored 183 runs at a strikerate of 160.5, while in the 25 matches in the calendar year, she accumulated 663 runs at a strike-rate of 126.2. Kaur is ranked third in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s Player Rankings for T20I Batters.

Beaumont “honoured and humbled” after being awarded knighthood for services to rugby TL Bureau.

Dublin: World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont has expressed his gratitude and says that he is “honoured and humbled” after being awarded a knighthood for services to rugby in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s honours list.

The honour is in recognition of a champion of rugby, who has dedicated his life to the betterment of the sport on and off the field in both a domestic and global context.

The announcement comes at a particularly exciting time for Beaumont and the sport. Elect-

ed Chairman of World Rugby in 2016, Beaumont has wasted no time in acting on his mandate and has presided over a period of record participation, fan and commercial growth, particularly amongst young people in emerging rugby nations.

Determined to ensure the governance, education and coaching structures are in place to support a growing global gamed, Beaumont has driven transformational governance reform that has seen an expansion of union and gender inclusivity in the sport’s highest decision-making body, the World Rugby Council.

He also oversaw historic international eligibility

reform that preserves the sanctity of international rugby and long-term international calendar harmony that gives greater opportunity for emerging nations, while providing financial certainty for all unions.

A family and rugby man through and through, World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Beaumont can often be found his beloved Fylde rugby club or watching son Josh play for Sale Sharks. He has always championed the community game, and has made it his mission as Chairman of World Rugby and formerly as Chairman of the RFU to make the sport as accessible and simple to play and support as possible at all levels.

11

TECH/AUTO

THE BIG MINI THREE-WAY INTERVIEW WITH STÉPHANE PETERHANSEL, CARLOS SAINZ AND CYRIL DESPRES Interview with the MINI JCW Buggy drivers Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Cyril Despres ahead of Dakar 2019. • Trio of Dakar legends has claimed a total of 20 overall wins. • Sainz: “We have the strongest team that will be competing at Dakar 2019.”

TL Bureau.

2019 Dakar Rally The big MINI three-way interview with Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Cyril Despres – Peterhansel: “I have never experienced team spirit like this.”

Interview with the MINI JCW Buggy drivers Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Cyril Despres ahead of Dakar 2019.

Trio of Dakar legends has claimed a total of 20 overall wins.

Sainz: “We have the strongest team that will be competing at Dakar 2019.”

Munich. The start of the 2019 Dakar Rally is imminent. The participating drivers will be taking on the challenges of the Peruvian desert from 6th to 17th January.

A very special trio of drivers will be competing in the MINI John Cooper Works Buggy: Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA), Carlos Sainz (ESP) and Cyril Despres (FRA) have chalked up a total of 20 overall wins in the world’s toughest rally and have become rally legends. In this threeway interview, they discuss their outstanding team spirit, the fascination of Dakar and their chances of success with the MINI JCW Buggy.

Peterhansel, Sainz, Despres: What do you think of this driver line-up?

Stéphane Peterhansel: “My initial reaction is to think of the very, very good team spirit. We have been driving together for several years now and we have always shared the philosophy of fighting for the team. I have never experienced team spirit like this.”

Cyril Despres: “We really are a great team and we get on really well. Each of us is very experienced and we have recorded a lot of Dakar wins. I believe that takes the pressure off us a bit.”

Carlos Sainz: “From my point of view, we have the strongest team that will be competing at Dakar 2019. I believe and hope that MINI is proud of this crew.”

Is strong team spirit particularly decisive in endurance rallies?

Sainz: “You can’t be successful without very good team spirit - and that’s

what we have. We also have a shared attitude and very high standards regarding our cars’ setup. That makes it easier for the team as we are all working together to get the car perfectly ready for the race.”

Peterhansel: “The fact that we are driving against the clock in rallying, not against one another, makes it easier to work together than with circuit races.

Nonetheless, I have already driven for many teams and I have never experienced an atmosphere as good as between Carlos, Cyril and myself.

Despres: “I have experienced that myself over the last two years. A couple of incidents meant that my own race was effectively over and I then concentrated on helping Stéphane and Carlos if they had tyre problems, for example. Stéphane then returned the favour for me at the Silk Way Rally. That is not to be taken for granted in rallying, but in our team we have created an atmosphere in which we all help one another. That can really make the difference at the Dakar rally.”

Why is the Dakar rally so fascinating?

Peterhansel: “It is simply a crazy race. We know the route, we know the car – but we still never know what is going to happen. That’s why, after all this time, the primary objective is to finish the world’s hardest race. Only then can you think about winning.”

Despres: “I want to reach the top level in every job that I do. That is why I train so hard, and in the world of off-road rallies, there is no greater challenge than the Dakar rally. That’s why I keep coming back every year.”

Sainz: “A great deal of the fascination is down to the mental and physical challenge, in my case. There are days when it’s just not going well and you ask yourself why you are doing this. But at the end of it all, those are the days that motivate you to come back the following year. The Dakar rally is just something special.”

How would you describe the MINI JCW Buggy in three keywords?

Sainz: “I only need two. It is a great, strong car.”

Peterhansel: “Very strong, great performance and a very good chassis. And I’d like to add a fourth point. It is great fun to drive.”

Despres: “I see it like that too. The chassis and the power are very good. I also think that it is very reliable and I love how responsive the engine is. I would particularly like to emphasise the combination of toughness and comfort in the chassis that allows you to stay fast even on tough terrain. I think that may have been more than three keywords...”

What you can achieve as a team in the Dakar rally?

Despres: “We certainly have the opportunity to finish the Dakar rally high up on the podium, but you also have to realise that the Buggy project is still in its infancy. Anything can happen but we certainly have the ambition to battle for the win.”

Peterhansel: “Yes, we are definitely a strong team. X-raid has a lot of experience, as do we, the drivers. The Buggy delivers great performance and is easy to drive, which is especially important in the dunes. Of course, our aim is to be battling for the win.”

Sainz: “When Stéphane, Cyril and I compete together, it’s clear that we are aiming to be involved in the battle for the win. I think we have done everything possible during our preparations to put ourselves in a good position.”

How does it feel to cross the finish line and know that you have won the world’s toughest race?

Peterhansel: “I have experienced this on 13 occasions and I still ask myself every time how it can be possible. Ultimately, you can stumble into a trap at any point during the race – and then that’s that. My co-driver and I do have a certain talent for this rally but it is still an extremely complicated task every time.”

Despres: “At the finish, you just feel extremely exhausted. It doesn’t matter whether you are a pro and have just won, or you have just crossed the line as a semi-pro driver. Everyone feels the same at that moment. For me, the Dakar is not just about winning but also about an adventure on a foreign continent. That alone means that crossing the finish line is a great feeling.”

Sainz: “To start with, you can’t be sure of winning the Dakar until you really have crossed the finish line. Anything can go wrong, right up to the final metres, but when you have made it, it’s just a great day. You have been rewarded for the many months of hard work that have got you to this point. You can compete in the Dakar rally many times, but winning it is a rare event. That is one of the things that makes it so attractive.”

How do you keep physically fit?

Despres: “Fitness training to prepare for the rally is an important part of my life. I have discovered mountain biking, climbing and ski tours. I also do a lot of swimming and do weight training. I just love physical exertion.”

Peterhansel: “I spend a lot of time on the bike – on the road and in the mountains with my mountain bike. I prefer outdoor sports in general.”

Sainz: “Of course, I keep fit so that I can meet the challenges of a tough event like the Dakar rally.”

Complete the following sentence: Peterhansel, Sainz and Despres stand out as a team because...

Peterhansel: “...we are the most successful Dakar team and have a fantastic team spirit.”

Despres: “...we have been driving together for several years and we get on really well.”

Sainz: “...we are the best.”

12 Snowmobile legislation to be eased

TL Bureau.

Helsinki: The use of larger, more powerful snowmobiles will be permitted on snowmobile routes designated for this purpose and separately designated routes.

The President of the Republic of Finland ratified amendments to the Vehicles Act, Driving Licence Act, Cross-Country Traffic Act on 28 December 2018.

A definition for ‘heavy snowmobile’ will be added to the Vehicles Act. A heavy snowmobile is a snowmobile whose unladen mass is no more than 0.8 tonnes, i.e. 300 kilograms more than the unladen mass of a (standard) snowmobile. Furthermore, a heavy snowmobile can seat no more than four people in addition to the driver, as opposed to a snowmobile, which can seat no more than two people in addition to the driver.

A heavy snowmobile may be driven on snowmobile routes that have been deemed suitable by the route operator and marked with additional ‘snowmobile route’ signs. A Category T driving licence is required to operate a heavy snowmobile.

Arrival of over 2 million Umrah Performers, as 2.3 million Visas’ were Issued TL Bureau Riyadh: The tally of those who have arrived in the Kingdom, up to date, to perform Umrah has stood at as many as 2 million, according to the weekly-based Umrah Indicator, administered by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, since the advent of the current Hijri Calendar.

The indicator is made up of four main factors: Number of visas issued, number of arrivals, their presence in Makkah as well as Madinah and the number of Umrah performers, who have already depart the Kingdom, following completing their rituals

Yemeni Army Removes Hundreds of Mines in Hodeidah TL Bureau.

Aden: The Yemeni National Army’s demining teams have removed hundreds of mines and dismantled improvised explosive devices planted by Iranian-backed Houthi militia on the main and secondary roads along the road between Hodeidah, Sana’a and other roads leading to the city of Hodeidah.

An official source in the Yemeni National Army said that the demining teams began operations yesterday, in preparation for the return of life to the city of Hodeidah and facilitate traffic after the withdrawal of the Houthi militia from the city and its ports.

UAE National Search and Rescue Center: Four people on board crashed helicopter

TL Bureau.

ABU DHABI: The UAE National Search and Rescue Center has announced that four people were on board Agusta 139 rescue helicopter which crashed next to Jais Mountain in Ras Al Khaimah earlier today.

The National Search and Rescue Center said that the four people died and expressed sincere sympathies to the families of the helicopter’s crew.

WORLD

In Odesa, Ukrainian President examined the dormitory for the sailors-contractors of the Naval Forces, including those captured by Russia

TL Bureau.

Odesa: During the working trip to Odesa region, President Petro Poroshenko visited the dormitory built for contractors of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“You cannot call it a barrack. This is a dormitory,” the Head of State told about the premises for the military personnel.

Petro Poroshenko separately appealed to Ukrainian seamen cap-

tured by Russia. “Dear military sailors of “Berdyansk”, “Nikopol”, “Yana Kapu”, we are waiting for you at home. And today we have got a powerful statement from the European Union, the leaders of Germany and France. Now the whole world is struggling for your release,” Petro Poroshenko said.

He added that French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had

called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ukrainian sailors and the return of ships, as well as to ensure free navigation in the Kerch Strait.

The President stressed that three sailors will settle in the dormitory rooms, as in the crew quarters. “These crew quarters are reserved for you so that you can settle after your return,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina registers landslide win in general elections TL Bureau.

Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s alliance has won the parliamentary vote with a thumping majority, officials said on Monday, even as the main opposition rejected the “farcical” elections which claimed 18 lives and left over 200 injured, making it one of the deadliest polls in the country.

The ruling Awami League-led coalition has won over 267 seats in the 300-member House, according to the Election Commission (EC).

The opposition National Unity Front (UNF) led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)--which has been out of power for 12 years and had boycotted the 10th general elections in 2014--managed to se-

cure only eight seats, media reports said.

The opposition Oikya Front demanded that the EC immediately scrap the “farcical election” and hold a fresh one under a non-partisan interim government.

TL Bureau New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Gaganyaan Programme with demonstration of Indian Human Spaceflight capability to low earth orbit for a mission duration ranging from one orbital period to a maximum of seven days. A human rated GSLV Mk-lll will be used to carry

the orbital module which will have necessary provisions for sustaining a 3-member crew for the duration of the mission. The necessary infrastructure for crew training, realization of flight systems and ground infrastructure will be established to support the Gaganyaan Programme. ISRO will collaborate extensively with National agencies, laboratories, academia and indus-

Front chief and veteran lawyer Kamal Hossain called the polls a “farce”, citing widespread polling frauds, bdnews24.com reported.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who steered the party in the absence of imprisoned former prime minister Khaleda Zia, described the polls as a “cruel farce”.

He said the elections proved that free and fair polls were not possible under a partisan government.

The EC confirmed the complete result of the constituency in southwestern Gopalganj from where Hasina won, bagging 2,29,539 votes, while her BNP opponent got only 123 votes.

Boost to India’s Space Program

try to accomplish the Gaganyaan Programme objectives.

The total fund requirement for the Gaganyaan Programme is within Rs.10,000 crore and includes cost of technology development, flight hardware realization and essential infrastructure elements.

Two unmanned flights and one manned flight will be undertaken as part of Gaganyaan Programme.

13

take your life back from ice.

There is a range of counselling, treatment, information and support services available to help you take your life back. If you need help, call 1800 250 015 or visit drughelp.gov.au