IAF gets first batch of 4 Apache attack helicopters from US
New Delhi: US aerospace major Boeing on Saturday handed over the first four of the 22 Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force while another batch of four choppers will be delivered next week. The delivery of the first batch of the AH-64E Apache helicopters to the IAF at the Hindan air base came nearly four years after a multi-billion dollar deal for the choppers was sealed. Boeing said the first batch of the Apaches arrived in India and an additional four choppers will be delivered to the IAF next week. Also Read – India gets first tranche of Swiss bank a/c details “The eight choppers will then move to the Pathankot Air Force station for their formal induction by the IAF, in September,” it said. The AH-64E Apache is one of the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, and is flown by the US Army. The IAF had signed a multi-billion dollar contract with the US government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters. Additionally, the Defence Ministry in 2017 approved the procurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore for the Army. This will be its first fleet of attack choppers. Also Read – Tourists to be allowed in J&K from Thursday Senior IAF officials said the addition the Apache fleet will significantly enhance the force’s combat capabilities as the chopper has been customised to suit IAF’s future requirements. “The arrival of the Apaches, ahead-of-schedule, validates Boeing’s commitment to delivering on its promise of modernising India’s defence forces. Boeing has ensured high rate of mission readiness and increased operational capabilities through its current partnerships with the IAF,” Boeing said in a statement. The company has delivered more than 2,200 Apaches to customers around the world since the aircraft entered production and India is the 14th nation to select it for its military. “By 2020, the IAF will operate a fleet of 22 Apaches, and these first deliveries are ahead of schedule,” Boeing said. The aerospace major said the AH-64E has the latest technology insertions, maintaining its standing as the world’s best attack helicopter. The AH-64E Apache for the Indian Air Force completed successful first flights in July 2018. The first batch of Indian Air Force crew began their training to fly the Apache in the US in 2018. “It is the only available combat helicopter with a spectrum of capabilities for virtually any mission requirement. For the AH-64 E, this includes greater thrust and lift, joint digital operability, improved survivability and cognitive decision aiding. It is uniquely suited to meet the commander’s needs, including reconnaissance, security, peacekeeping operations, and lethal attack – in both land and littoral environments – all without reconfiguration,” it said.
New Delhi: The Special Branch of Delhi Police has sent a report, regarding the survey of markets, cinemas, malls and important buildings, to senior officers. The city police unit found security defects during checks and asked officials to take action. Police sources said that the report was sent to Special CPs, Joint CPs and Additional CP of Delhi Police. “Checking/survey was carried out by Special Branch staff in important locations including religious places,” sources said. Also Read – After eight years, businessman arrested for kidnap & murderSources told Millennium Post that lack of CCTV cameras and fire fighting arrangements were found in some places. “DFMD and HHMD were not installed at vital locations. Near two hotels, no armed guards were found present,” sources said adding that in some machans, staff were not found. There was negligence in parking checking. “Searching and frisking were not done in few spots,” added sources. The Special Branch has told officers to take necessary action on security defects. Also Read – Two brothers held for snatchingsAccording to police, ahead of Independence Day celebrations, security has been increased in Delhi. “We are keeping a tab on every suspicious movement in the city,” police said. Sources said that Intelligence Agencies had already alerted city police. The agencies have asked the security forces to increase the security all around Red Fort from where the Prime Minister will unfurl the national flag on August 15. Through input, the security agencies have been asked to increase security in Ghaziabad, Lucknow. The security in more than 30 sensitive places in Delhi needs to be heightened. The intelligence agencies further told law enforcement agency to sensitise their security personnel about the changing terrorist tactics and take appropriate countermeasures to thwart such attacks. Earlier, the Special Cell of Delhi Police had written to all districts, units related to the shortcomings in security they found during their checking in sensitive areas in the city. Special Cell had told districts and units that local police officials under their jurisdiction may be advised to brief the concerned officers to rectify these defects.
OTTAWA – Observers see a growing number of Syrian child brides as a tangible impact of the $3 billion gap between the financial needs of displaced Syrians in the Middle East and the funds available to pay for them.After seven years of living in exile, Syrians are increasingly under pressure and that’s driving a rise in child marriage, said Robert Jenkins, a Canadian who is in charge of UNICEF efforts in Jordan.“Living this long in an environment which you can’t settle and build roots, you’re in transit almost by definition,” Jenkins said in a phone interview from Toronto after two days of meetings with Canadian government and UNICEF officials.“But also the funding crisis that the international community and the UN is experiencing is having a bearing on the support that can be provided to refugees.”The increase in child marriage among Syrians has long been suspected, but this week an analysis was published of data from the Jordanian census proving it to be true.It found that in 2010, 33 per cent of Syrian females getting married in Jordan were between the ages of 13 and 17. In 2015, that number rose to almost 44 per cent.Jenkins said the data he’s seen suggests that since 2015, the incidence of child marriage has doubled and child labour rates among refugees are rising as well.“These are snapshots reflecting increasing vulnerabilities and that’s something that is of real concern to us,” he said.The marriage rates reflect the entire population of Syrians in Jordan — about 1.275 million, of which about half are registered refugees. Of those, 51 per cent are under the age of 18.One of the largest concentrations of Syrian refugees in Jordan can be found at the Zaatari refugee camp, where 35 per cent of the population is under 18. The Canadian cabinet ministers who visited shortly after it opened in 2012 would likely not recognize the place if they returned now.Gone are the tents and nearly all the water trucks once used to house and help residents and in their place stands a sprawling city of caravans with a nearly competed sanitation system — one of many projects that Canada has funded to support the camp.In 2016, the Liberal government pledged $1.1 billion over three years for aid and development related to the Syrian crisis and the money is helping with what positive outcomes UNICEF, among others, have seen, Jenkins said.But it pales in comparison to actual need. In 2017, the UN required US$4.6 billion and as of July 1, only US$1 billion had arrived.Studies of child marriage have identified several causes: one less mouth to feed for impoverished families, the financial boost of a bride price, the desire to protect girls from being preyed upon or give them a more stable home life.At Zaatari, UNICEF seeks to address these causes, providing counselling to protect girls from child marriage and offering access to water, psychosocial support and schooling.“When you need to prioritize amongst those key services it is incredibly challenging and will have an impact on the most vulnerable,” Jenkins said.— with files from The Associated Press.
TORONTO – Police are looking for a missing steer in eastern Ontario.Ontario Provincial Police say a red Angus steer escaped from a farm in August Township, about 100 kilometres south of Ottawa, on Oct. 27.OPP say there have been sightings since the escape and the animal was last seen earlier this week.They are worried it may become a hazard to drivers.If spotted, police say people should not approach the steer, but to call them.
EDMONTON – Alberta sex criminals convicted of at least two offences will no longer be automatically placed on the national sex offenders registry after a Queen’s Bench judge rejected attempts to justify the requirement.In a ruling released Monday, Justice Andrea Moen reaffirmed her earlier decision that Alberta judges and prosecutors should have discretion over who is added to the list.She also said it was unconstitutional to keep an offender on the list permanently.University of Alberta law professor Eric Adams said that means the laws no longer exist.“They are of no force and effect,” he said Tuesday.The ruling closes the book on the conviction of Eugen Ndhlovu, who pleaded guilty in 2015 to sex assault on two women in 2011.Court heard Ndhlovu, 19 at the time, was invited and brought to a party publicized by a sexually explicit ad on Facebook, at which he touched one woman on the buttocks and another in her vagina.He was sentenced to six months in jail and three years of probation. Under 2011 amendments made to the sex offenders registry brought in by then-justice minister Vic Toews, Ndhlovu’s name would have also been permanently added to the list with no opportunity for either the judge or the Crown to exercise discretion.But Moen found in her original decision that violated Ndhlovu’s rights. The Crown was given the chance to argue the violation was justified, and those arguments were rejected by Moen this week.In her ruling, Moen found the Crown introduced almost no evidence to show that the mandatory listing made police investigations into sexual assault more effective.As well, Moen noted the rate at which offenders with Ndhlovu’s profile — young, no previous criminal history, well-supported by family and community — commit a further sex assault is no higher than the general prison population.“Based on the logic of the Crown, all general offenders should also be included on the (sex offenders) registry,” Moen wrote. “This is, of course, ridiculous.”On the other hand, being placed on the registry has a significant impact on a person’s life, she said.For example, such people must inform police every time they move. Police may question them at any time, including their place of work.“Putting him on this registry would make it more likely that this guy would always be in trouble,” Elvis Iginla, Ndhlovu’s lawyer, said in an interview.“Based on this guy’s background and his circumstances, the chances that he would ever sexually offend is very minimal. When you weigh those things and say based on those chances, is it worth it to destroy this guy’s life?”Still, Mary Jane James of Edmonton’s Sexual Assault Centre was disappointed in the ruling.“I find this decision by the court to be, at the very least, disappointing, and a significant step backwards in keeping our society safe from this kind of criminal conduct.”A spokeswoman for Alberta Justice said the Crown is currently considering whether to appeal.Adams said Moen’s decision is part of a pattern of mandatory sentences being rolled back from former prime minister Stephen Harper’s era.“Those have been difficult for judges to justify,” he said.On Tuesday, an Ontario senator introduced a bill that would give judges the choice of whether to apply those measures.“Rights can sometimes be reasonably infringed,” Adams said. “Not based on hunches and instincts and a general distaste for those kinds of people, but with actual demonstrable evidence that we are violating these rights for a good reason.”— Follow Bob Weber on Twitter at @row1960
The Muscular Dystrophy Association has made a statement following the passing of Jerry Lewis.“The Muscular Dystrophy Association is deeply saddened by the death of beloved comedian, performer, humanitarian and former MDA telethon star and national chairman Jerry Lewis,” wrote R. Rodney Howell, M.D., MDA Chairman of the Board. “MDA would not be the organization it is today if it were not for Jerry’s tireless efforts on behalf of “his kids.” His enthusiasm for finding cures for neuromuscular disease was matched only by his unyielding commitment to see the fight through to the end. Jerry’s efforts on the annual MDA Telethon transformed the broadcast into an American tradition each Labor Day weekend for 45 years.“MDA and the families we serve will always be grateful for the thousands of hours he dedicated through the telethon, which provided MDA with a platform to honor and acknowledge our longtime corporate partners and educate the American public who generously donated millions of dollars for unparalleled research and services.“Jerry’s love, passion and brilliance are woven throughout this organization, which he helped build from the ground up.“Though we will miss him beyond measure, we suspect that somewhere in heaven, he’s already urging the angels to give ’just one dollar more for my kids. Thank you Jerry, you are our hero. God bless you. We send our deepest condolences to his wife Sam; his daughter, Danielle; his sons, Gary, Ronald, Scott, Christopher and Anthony; and the entire Lewis family.”
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram The number of people leaving Greece to start a new life in Australia is continuing to rise, according to the latest data released by the Department of Immigration. Figures announced this week show the number of temporary and permanent visas awarded to Greek nationals increased in the last financial year, showing growth in nearly every visa category, with a particular spike in temporary 457 visas – up by nearly 70 per cent. Such visas, which accounted for 156 Greeks entering the country in 2011-12, increased to 264 in 2012-13. In 2010-11 only 57 visas were granted in this category. Registered Migration Agent Penny Dimopoulos told Neos Kosmos said that the spike in 457 visas could be partly attributed to those who came to Australia originally on student visas in recent years. “Many Greeks who arrived on student visas have been able to improve their English, acquire a qualification or gain Australian work experience – that has now enabled them to apply for a work or skilled visa – which they may not have been eligible for previously.” Numbers for permanent migration under family and skilled migration streams rose between 2011-12 and 2012-13 by 61 per cent – from 325 to 525. These figures, says Ms Dimopoulos, are likely to relate to spouses and children of Australian citizens who were born in Australia but returned to Greece. “When the crisis initially hit, many of these people decided to stay and wait for the situation to improve, however, given the fact that unemployment remains high and opportunities in Greece are currently so limited, some of these people have now decided to make a new start in Australia.” Over the last three years the number of people from Greece entering Australia via the family and skilled migration streams has been growing steadily, with only 134 Greeks permanently migrating in 2010-11. Student visas – the single highest visa category other than temporary offshore tourist visitors – continues to rise – up by 45 per cent on 2011-12. In that 12 months 587 Greek citizens were offered visas to study in Australia. In 2012-13 the figure increased by 332 to 855. Temporary tourist visas – allowing short stays (usually a maximum of three months) continue to be the most common method for Greek nationals to enter Australia, though the figure fell in the last financial year. In 2011-12, 7938 Greeks came to Australia as temporary offshore visitors on tourist visas. That figure decreased in 2012-13 to 7222. For Cyprus, which has a much smaller level of migration, 27 Cyprus nationals permanently migrated in 2012-13, an increase of 11 on the year previously. 1414 Cypriots visited Australia in 2012-13 as temporary offshore visitors compared to 1395 in the 12 months before, while 128 Cyprus nationals came to Australia on Working Holiday visas, an increase of nearly 100 on 2011-12. Immigration’s latest figures do not include Greek Australian dual-nationals who have returned to Australia.
Firefox 3.6 est terminéÉtats-Unis – La fondation Mozilla a terminé la mise à jour de la version 3.6 de son navigateur Firefox. Présentation.La version 3.6 de Mozilla Firefox est à jour. Un soulagement pour ses utilisateurs puisque le navigateur de Mozilla est passé par cinq stades bêta et 3 RC avant d’afficher sa phase terminale. Cette version sera la dernière avant Firefox 4.0 puisque Mozilla a annoncé la modification prochaine de la manière dont le navigateur est développé. Mais pour le moment, la version 3.6 accélère la vitesse d’exécution du programme durant le lancement et son utilisation grâce à un traitement amélioré du javascript dans les pages Web. Par ailleurs, Mozilla a choisi d’insister sur la personnalisation du navigateur : des Personas seront intégrés avec une installation facile grâce à un site dédié. Ces derniers sont des éléments gratuits qui permettent de “customiser” le navigateur.Le 22 janvier 2010 à 12:45 • Emmanuel Perrin
Facebook Adam Martin RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR WWE RAW Preview: King of the Ring Final Match, Fallout from WWE Clash of Champions Pinterest Ben Roethlisberger WhatsApp Google+ Former WWE star ‘Grandmaster Sexay’ dies Twitter Videos Articles Now Playing Up Next Videos Articles Reason Behind Antonio Browns Drama With The Steelers May Be Revealed Antonio Brown WWE’s Charly Caruso announced in a new video on Twitter from tonight’s RAW in Philadelphia that Rich Swann will be defending the WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Brian Kendrick and TJ Perkins this Sunday at WWE Roadblock.You can check out the announcement below courtesy of WWE.Our live coverage of tonight’s 12/12 WWE RAW begins at 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 CT).#RAW EXCLUSIVE: @CharlyCarusoWWE announces a #Cruiserweight Championship #TripleThreat for #WWERoadblock this Sunday! pic.twitter.com/q2PbyxFTbM— WWE (@WWE) December 12, 2016 Now Playing Up Next Wrestleview Weekly: Predictions for tonight’s Clash of Champions event in Charlotte Now Playing Up Next Dave Bautista Announces His Retirement From WWE Now Playing Up Next Seth Rollins Defends WWE On Two Separate Occasions Now Playing Up Next Who Are Ronda Rousey’s Top WWE Supporters? Recommended videosPowered by AnyClipReason Behind Antonio Browns Drama With The Steelers May Be RevealedVideo Player is loading.Play VideoPauseUnmuteDuration 0:39/Current Time 0:00Loaded: 100.00%0:00Remaining Time -0:39 FullscreenUp NextThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.Replay the list WWE Draft confirmed to be taking place as a two-night event starting on October 11
SALEM, Ore. — A national solar energy company is betting nearly $1 billion on an Oregon development spree, including five new solar farms in Marion and Polk counties.Cypress Creek Renewables, a developer that sells electricity to utility companies and already operates seven solar sites in Oregon, is building farms near Salem, Silverton, Gervais, Turner and Grand Ronde.Cypress Creek, which operates in 15 states, has its largest group of farms in North Carolina, where more than 100 are either operating or under construction, company officials say.The Marion and Polk county farms will cover about 12 acres each, producing enough energy to power some 450 homes. They should be churning out electricity by year’s end or shortly afterward, company officials said. The farms will sell energy to Portland General Electric, which will send it to its utility ratepayers.The Willamette Valley’s population density is such “that solar’s needed in this area as part of the renewable energy mix,” Cypress Creek spokeswoman Amy Berg Pickett said. “So it’s good to site solar where the energy is going to be used.”
Fisher Construction Group of Burlington plans to build a 10,000-square-foot, 2-story office building at the Port of Vancouver to house its growing operations in Clark County.Expanding the company’s footprint in the area makes sense, Dan Powers, Fisher’s president and chief executive, said Monday.“It seems like it has a lot of growth opportunity,” Powers said. “We’re excited to get ourselves down there.”Powers said the company is in the process of acquiring about 2 acres from the Port of Vancouver to build the office structure as well as a 2,500-square-foot shop at Northwest 32nd Avenue and 38th Circle. Plans submitted to the city of Vancouver show expansion of the office and shop are possible in the future. The office building would have space for 38 vehicles.Construction would start this spring and be completed by autumn, Powers said. The Vancouver office would start with 40 to 50 employees and grow to about 100, he said.Fisher specializes in the design and construction of cold storage warehousing and food processing facilities. It counts Firestone Pacific Foods of Vancouver among its customers.In addition to its headquarters office in Burlington, the company has an office in Spokane. It has $400 million in sales last year, said Powers, who graduated from the University of Portland with an engineering degree.
AC Milan players Pepe Reina and Lucas Biglia have described their feelings of losing Chelsea-bound Gonzalo Higuain.Higuain is expected to fly out for his Chelsea medical tomorrow to complete the protracted move, interrupting his loan from Juventus six months early.Genoa forward Krzysztof Piatek is set to move to the San Siro and would wrap up his medical tomorrow.The exit of Pipita brought the emotional sad of his teammates as they expressed their thoughts on his departure.“I said goodbye to Higuain with an embrace, it’s always a bitter moment,” confessed Reina via Football Italia during this evening’s charity event in Milan.
Higuain is glad of Juve return and reunited with Ronaldo George Patchias – September 12, 2019 Gonzalo Higuain is happy he returned to Juventus and has the opportunity to be reunited with Cristiano Ronaldo.The Argentine spent last season on loan…“I wished him all the best and gave him a hug. Unfortunately, this too is football. I am losing a teammate, but retain a great friend.”Milan midfielder Biglia spent a lot of time with Higuain in the Argentina national team too.“There is a bitter feeling when saying goodbye, as Pipita is a friend,” said Biglia at the same event.“Another player will arrive, one who can hopefully become a great centre-forward. We want to continue doing well.”Higuain may likely feature in Chelsea’s semi-final second leg tie against Spurs if he completes his move in time before the game.
ASA Chairman Richard Wilkins (center) testifies on the importance of research funding in the farm bill, along with Dr. Jay Akridge (left), dean of agriculture at Purdue University, representing the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and Jim Carrington (right), Donald Danforth Plant Science Center president.American Soybean Association (ASA) Chairman Richard Wilkins, a soybean farmer from Greenwood, Del., testified Thursday on the significant role that public-sector research plays in continuing the stream of technological innovations that drive the agriculture industry. Wilkins testified in his capacity as vice president of the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NCFAR) before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research.In his testimony, Wilkins spoke to the user-driven nature of the public-sector research industry, and how stakeholders from all points in the farm-to-consumer supply chain benefit from robust agricultural research.“Tools provided through publicly funded research, extension and education are needed to help achieve safer, more nutritious, convenient and affordable foods delivered to sustain a well-nourished, healthy population; more efficient and environmentally friendly food, fiber and forest production; improved water quality, land conservation, wildlife and other environmental conditions; less dependence on non-renewable sources of energy; expanded global markets and improved balance of trade; and more jobs and sustainable rural economic development,” Wilkins said.Wilkins advocated continued funding and support for the intermural and extramural research functions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To accomplish these funding goals, Wilkins noted the active role that NCFAR as a customer-led coalition plans on the research title of the 2018 Farm Bill.“The research title of the farm bill represents the nation’s signature federal investment in the future of the food and agricultural sector,” said Wilkins. “In fact, the success of every other title in the farm bill and those who are charged with carrying out their respective missions is arguably dependent in significant part on scientific outcomes and tools generated by programs authorized through the research title, and then funded by Congress.”Wilkins testified to the danger that the current lack of attention to the public research system presents in terms of missed opportunity for innovation.“We as a nation are not investing enough in in publicly funded research to permit discovery necessary to regain and then maintain our nation’s place as the leader in agricultural research,” Wilkins said. “Federal funding for food and agricultural research, extension and education has been essentially flat for over 20 years despite much greater demonstrated needs, and has reportedly declined by about 25 percent in real terms since 2003. At the same time support for other federal research has increased substantially. Our nation’s competitiveness in global markets is at risk, as investments in food and agricultural science by our global competitors have been growing rapidly. “For a full transcript of Wilkins’ testimony, please click here.