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Reno, NV (PRWEB) January 03, 2017

In December 2016, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) renewed its Government/Industry Partnership with the National Air Transportation Association - Compliance Services (NATACS) for an additional five-year period. This renewed agreement will result in two decades of uninterrupted services to the general and business aviation community by NATACS. The agreement authorizes NATACS to continue as a Trusted Fingerprint Facility to process biographical and biometric information and other services for general and commercial aviation populations, worldwide.

Over the years, the TSA/NATACS partnership has expanded to include:

    Known Crewmember Program for Part 135 on-demand air charter operators participating in the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) and Private Charter Standard Security Program (PCSSP).
    Maryland Three (MD3) - Federal Restricted Zone (FRZ) Airports
    DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP)
    Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP)

“We are honored to continue our work with TSA,” stated NATACS CEO Michael Sundheim. “NATACS exists to help TSA carry out its critical security mission, ensuring industry compliance with the government’s strict requirements, all while minimizing the costs and impact on businesses. NATACS looks forward to an ongoing, strong partnership with TSA in the coming years.”

“Public-Private Partnerships are tremendously important for TSA’s mission success,” added Eddie Mayenschein, TSA’s Assistant Administrator for Security Policy and Industry Engagement “Our partnership with NATACS is a great example of successful collaboration with industry.”

NATACS manages more than 200 certified enrollment specialists worldwide who conduct collections for regulated parties throughout the industry. Under the agreement, NATACS will provide all pre-enrollment, enrollment, fingerprint collection, secure data transmission for TSA-conducted background checks and results distribution on tens of thousands of flight crewmembers and flight students each year.

Martin L. Hiller, President of the National Air Transportation Association concluded, “NATA congratulates both TSA and Compliance Services for reaching agreement to continue working together for an additional five years. The NATACS suite of products is an important component in our mission to help aviation businesses succeed in the marketplace. It’s another demonstration of the fact that public/private partnerships like these can make our nation secure without creating undue burden on small businesses.”

Bedford, NH (PRWEB) January 03, 2017

Single Digits, Inc. a leading global provider of High Speed Internet Access (HSIA) management software, IP network integration and support solutions has acquired Texas based Ze-Net Technologies Inc., a leading provider of Wi-Fi infrastructures for the hospitality industry. Ze-Net Technologies is known for its high-touch, white glove technical service and support.

The acquisition expands the company’s reach across the hospitality industry, adding hundreds of properties across a broad geographic landscape, and it boosts its Wi-Fi project management and field engineering depth in both full service and select service hotels. Ze-Net customers will immediately receive the benefit of the Single Digits authentication platform.

“Ze-Net’s acquisition is a major addition to our company. It adds a highly technical team on the ground in Texas and strengthens our ability to deliver cost effective service in the Southwest. Ze-Net has built an excellent reputation for network design and installation for complex hospitality environments. We look forward to a seamless transition and welcome Ze-Net’s following of loyal customers,” says Bob Goldstein, CEO of Single Digits.

Randy Jamison, CEO of Ze-Net adds, “As all of the major hospitality brands push out more comprehensive standards, HSIA providor consolidation makes sense. After careful research we felt Single Digits provides the right technology and support that meets the high standards of Ze-Net customers. We are excited to be joining forces with the industry leader Single Digits to offer our customers brand standard compliant solutions that consistently exceed guest expectations.”

About Ze-Net Technologies

Ze-net Technologies, Inc. designs and maintains advanced LAN infrastructures for the hospitality industry. A Marriott GPNS vendor, Ze-net Technologies provides high-speed internet access installations and upgrades to the top hotel brands across the United States. Ze-net Technologies was founded in 1998 by veteran IT professionals.

About Single Digits Inc.

As a leading global provider of High Speed Internet Access (HSIA), Single Digits enables property owners to monetize their Wi-Fi networks through our award winning Broadband Authentication Platform. The company provides services to property owners in hospitality, malls, transportation, small box retail, mixed use and class A office space. Single Digits delivers turnkey solutions including IP network design, guest Wi-Fi monetization, professional services, ongoing maintenance, network monitoring, multi-lingual support, revenue reporting and authentication tracking. The company has more than 250 employees with network operating centers in New Hampshire, Colorado, Nevada, Tijuana Mexico and now Texas.

For more information about Single Digits or to find out more about its services, contact Kaylin Benfield, 4 Bedford Farms Dr. Suite 210, Bedford, NH 03110 Tel: 603.580.1539. Email: kbenfield(at)singledigits.com

(PRWEB) January 03, 2017

The Excelera network consists of point-of-care specialty pharmacies owned by health systems and academic medical centers. The network provides members nationally scaled infrastructure and support to help them develop best practices and gain access to limited-distribution drugs and biologics and restrictive payer agreements so members can provide continuity of care for their patients with complex and chronic conditions requiring specialty drugs and biologics. The Excelera specialty pharmacy network also serves as a national platform for collaboration to optimize outpatient specialty drug therapy for population health.

“UnityPoint at Home is pleased to join the Excelera network with the goal of enhancing our specialty pharmacy capabilities,” said Ruth Coady, UnityPoint at Home Infusion Services and Specialty Pharmacy Executive Director. “The benefits of membership align with our focus of delivering the best possible outcomes and lowering costs for our patients.”

“We are delighted to welcome UnityPoint at Home into our national network,” said Jim Fox, Chief Executive Officer of the Excelera network. “UnityPoint at Home is an example of an integrated health system looking to improve continuity of care for complex patients in order to lower costs and advance clinical and financial outcomes.”

Specialty pharmaceuticals are expensive drugs that require special handing and administration and are often used to treat the most ill and clinically complex patients. The Excelera organization will partner with UnityPoint at Home Specialty Pharmacy to develop key specialty pharmacy capabilities including training, operations, data aggregation, reporting for drug manufacturers and payers, revenue cycle management and pharmacy business office.

About Excelera

ExceleraRx Corp. supports the Excelera® Specialty Pharmacy Network, a national network of specialty pharmacies based at health systems and academic medical centers, enabling member organizations to gain access to limited distribution drugs and restricted payer agreements. The Excelera network provides national-scale efficiency and collaboration to improve quality and value of outpatient specialty drug therapy for population health outcomes. Excelera’s mission is to “provide tools, technology and best practices around high-performing specialty pharmacy capabilities to network members, so that they can provide integrated, coordinated care to complex patients at the point-of-care leading to improved health outcomes and decreased healthcare costs.” For a current list of Excelera specialty pharmacy network members, or for more information about becoming a member of the Excelera national specialty pharmacy network, visit excelerarx.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About UnityPoint at Home

UnityPoint at Home is an integrated home health services provider serving patients and communities in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Part of UnityPoint Health, the nation’s fourth largest nondenominational health system, UnityPoint at Home works together with its affiliated physicians and hospitals to coordinate the services, support and education necessary for patients to continue their care at home. Services include adult and pediatric nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, personal care and home support, infusion therapy, respiratory therapy, palliative care, hospice and home medical equipment services. For more information about UnityPoint at Home, or to find a location near you, visit unitypointathome.org.

Greenwich, CT USA (PRWEB) January 03, 2017

The most comprehensive survey in the market research industry, the GRIT report is designed to help industry professionals and clients strategize by understanding research buyer and supplier trends and thus guides research business leaders toward engaging with traditional and innovative approaches to gathering research that facilities decision making for their organizations. Civicom was represented by Global Vice President of Marketing Research Services Rebecca West who weighed in on various questions presented by the GRIT Report in her role as a GRIT panel expert.

Perception of Techniques and Approaches

Among one of the topics the webinar discussed from the GRIT survey was the perception of various techniques and approaches. The report conveyed that mobile surveys, online communities, as well as social media and text analytics are the techniques currently in greatest use. The data reflected a more limited interest in experimental methodologies such as neuromarketing, biometric response, facial analysis, telemetry data and virtual reality.

The expert panel agreed however that as technology continues to evolve, so shall the experimentation and adoption of these new tools and techniques. Another possibility, according to Civicom, is that research is indeed being conducted on some of these newer methodologies, but researchers are utilizing more traditional methodologies to get to the data â€" in other words, traditional methodologies are being used to evaluate the adoption of newer methodologies.

Quality of Data and User Experience

The webinar emphasized that important issues to both clients and suppliers evolve around trust and quality of data, starting with the integrity of research participant panels. Panelists agreed with survey participants that the company that owns or manages the database is the entity most responsible for ensuring the quality of the sample source.

Integrity of the Sample Source

Civicom shared that from a solutions provider standpoint dealing mostly with qualitative, ensuring the quality of the sample source is very critical, as misrecruits can significantly compromise the integrity of a study. In addition, identifying truly qualified respondents for a study becomes a challenge when there are many factors and prerequisites respondents must meet. The other experts weighed in by saying that respondent quality is a shared responsibility between the company that owns the database and the research designer.

Market Research Game Changers

Civicom agreed that Big Data is one of the potential game-changers in the research industry. The experts agreed that to be able to stay relevant alongside Big Data, it is important for market researchers to have the capability to leverage and efficiently utilize integrated data sets. They agreed that Big Data will continue to flourish, along with the possibility of integration with other trends such as artificial intelligence, automation, and attribution analytics, and that the ultimate game changer could be a combination of all of them, as adoption of these technologies continues to rise.

Looking Ahead

As a takeaway, Rebecca West, Global VP of Civicom Marketing Research Services, concluded that marketing research is “changing rapidly,” and utilizing technology has definitely become a significant know-how for a marketing researcher. “The focus is going to be on many of the things that were presented in the GRIT report: automation, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, big data, and analytics. This is the future and it's important to embrace that future in order to be a part of it,” according to Civicom.

Part 1 of the GreenBook GRIT Webinar was held on December 13th. Part 2 of the webinar, Findings from the Q3-Q4 2016 GreenBook Research Industry Trends Report, is scheduled for Thursday, January 5, 2017, at 1 PM ET. Webinar attendees of Part 2 of the GreenBook GRIT webinar will get to dive into more about Big Data, traditional quant, trends impacting corporate researchers, supplier satisfaction, and more. Interested parties may click here to register.

About GreenBook

The GreenBook Worldwide Directories is a project of the New York AMA (American Marketing Association) Communication Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the New York American Marketing Association. GreenBook provides a listing of market research suppliers in two volumes. Volume One features companies that offer online advertising, brand and media research, and specialized research for major industries like financial, healthcare, retail, technology and telecommunications. The second volume features companies that offer focus group moderation, and qualitative research services such as recruiting, moderating, videoconferencing, internet broadcasting, usability testing, etc. The GreenBook onine directory can be found at https://www.greenbook.org/

About Civicom Marketing Research Services

Civicom Marketing Research Services offers many options to enhance the research process for marketing research professionals. Civicom is the global leader in facilitating telephone and web-enabled IDIs and Focus Groups using Civicom CyberFacility®. Civicom also offers Civicom Chatterbox®, an asynchronous research platform for online communities and bulletin boards, plus Civicom InSitu® Mobile Research, a qualitative tool for shopper insights, audio diaries and patient journeys. Recently Civicom introduced the Civicom ThoughtLightâ,,¢ Mobile Insights App, a qualitative mobile app for collecting richer in-the-moment insights that works with both iOS and Android. ThoughtLight includes GPS and GEO, plus off line accessibility for places where there is no data connection.

Civicom operates in over 96 countries and offers extensive translation services for marketing researchers, as well as transcription services through TranscriptionWingâ,,¢, and respondent recruiting through CiviSelectâ,,¢. All of these services are available in Spanish, as well as English, and multiple other languages.

Civicom Marketing Research chooses to be as dynamic as it is innovative; always listening to and acting on clients’ ideas and requests as they see fit. This kind of relationship has paved the way for the development and rollout of new services.

To learn more, email Civicom® at inquire(at)civi(dot)com or call +1-203-413-2423.

Las Vegas, Nevada (PRWEB) January 03, 2017

Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall â€" booth #12941, January 3rd, 2017--Loctek, a leading global manufacturer of health and wellness office solutions, will showcase a collection of workspace innovations at CES 2017 in Las Vegas this week, January 5-8.

An emphasis on movement will be a central theme of Loctek’s booth. “This will be another exciting year for our company because we have the best new office products for a healthier way of working at a computer,” said Lane Xiang, CEO of Loctek. “In addition to our ergonomic solutions, we are introducing a collection of products designed to add movement into the typical office environment.”

The company will be introducing two new lines of desktop risers, building off of the success it had with its classic MT101 Series. The new series on display at CES will be:

MT104 Series- Featuring an improved keyboard tray that allows separate height adjustments, quick release and negative tilting for healthier wrist positions. The adjustable tilting surface avoids unhealthy slouching while reading or writing. Built-in power grommets and USB ports for all your devices close at hand.

MT103 Series- Designed without pre-determined height settings, so you can easily adjust the standing desk to match your exact height requirements. A compact design lets you easily integrate the desk into your current layout while making the most of available desk space.

Loctek will also be showcasing an updated selection of its Wellness Workspace line of products that provide a comprehensive “Sit-Stand-Move” approach to the office workday. The Wellness Workspace offers a three-part solution for a healthier, more comfortable way of working, including:

1. Ergonomic Monitor Mount- Enables users to maintain a neutral shoulder, neck and back position while also minimizing screen glare.
2. Height Adjustable Desk- Quickly and seamlessly transitions between sitting and standing with just a touch of the digital control panel.
3. Under Desk Bike -Simply roll the bike under your height adjustable desk to get a satisfying, light exercise without making you sweat or distracting you from work.

For more information about the Wellness Workspace, please visit:
store.loctek.us/wellness-workspace-solution

Loctek’s desktop risers, Workspace Wellness combination, ergonomic mounts, TV mounts and additional audio/visual peripherals will be on display and available for public trials without an appointment at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, booth #12941.

About Loctek:
Loctek designs and manufactures ergonomic solutions that bring healthy movement to the modern workplace. Products include height adjustable desks, sit-stand desktop workstations and computer monitor mounts. The company’s fitness line includes stationary exercise bikes, foldable x-bikes and bikes designed to be used while working with computers. Loctek is also a top selling global brand of AV mounting solutions including TV mounts, TV carts and tablet stands. More information about the company is available on its website: http://www.loctek.us.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) January 03, 2017

Consumers are altering their buying habits to include more online and mobile transactions. At the same time, adoption of the EMV security standard by both card issuers and merchants is expanding rapidly in the United States, making counterfeit card fraud at the physical point of sale much more difficult to perpetrate. These two market changes are causing fraud to shift to the card-not-present environment.

Mercator Advisory Group’s new research note, Debit and 3-D Secure 2.0, provides background on the market shift toward e-commerce and m-commerce and discusses the enhancements of 3-D Secure 2.0, particularly improvements to the cardholder experience.

“Issuers now need to turn their attention to card-not-present losses and the new version of 3-D Secure to counter the assault. The 2.0 solution is much improved from the initial version and an important part of an overall cardholder verification strategy. Although debit doesn’t experience as much fraud volume as credit, it is critical to incorporate tools like 3-D Secure 2.0 in consideration of the disruption that debit card fraud can create for an account holder,” comments Sarah Grotta, Director, Debit Advisory Service at Mercator Advisory Group and author of the report.

Highlights of the research note include:

    Estimates for e-commerce and m-commerce in the United States.

    Debit card-not-present volumes and fraud levels

    A high-level process flow of a 3-D Secure 2.0 transaction

This report has 11 pages and 5 exhibits.

Companies mentioned in this document include: EMVCo, MasterCard, Pay Pal, and Visa.

Members of Mercator Advisory Group’s Debit Advisory Service have access to these reports as well as the upcoming research for the year ahead, presentations, analyst access, and other membership benefits.

For more information and media inquiries, please call Mercator Advisory Group's main line: (781) 419-1700, send e-mail to info(at)mercatoradvisorygroup(dot)com.

For free industry news, opinions, research, company information and more visit us at http://www.paymentsjournal.com.

Follow us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/MercatorAdvisor.

About Mercator Advisory Group
Mercator Advisory Group is the leading independent research and advisory services firm exclusively focused on the payments and banking industries. We deliver pragmatic and timely research and advice designed to help our clients uncover the most lucrative opportunities to maximize revenue growth and contain costs. Our clients range from the world's largest payment issuers, acquirers, processors, merchants and associations to leading technology providers and investors. Mercator Advisory Group is also the publisher of the online payments and banking news and information portal PaymentsJournal.com.

(PRWEB) January 02, 2017

Through new, direct alignment with Herrmann Global operations, Herrmann International and Whole Brain Leadership Management (Shanghai), Inc., a licensee of Herrmann International’s Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®) assessment for more than 18 years, are strengthening their partnership and building closer ties to accelerate growth, innovation and client opportunities in the Chinese market.

“Many organizations already rely on the service and expertise of the Whole Brain Leadership Management team to meet the development needs of their leaders and managers located throughout China,” says Ann Herrmann-Nehdi, CEO of Herrmann International. “The strengthening of our relationship will build on the good work that’s in place and help broaden the impact and accessibility of Whole Brain® Thinking, HBDI® assessments and other learning opportunities for clients in the Chinese market.”

Whole Brain Leadership Management develops and delivers leadership programs addressing issues such as communication, teamwork, change, project management, innovation and more, working with a range of major global corporations, including Adidas, IBM, Microsoft, KPMG, Coca-Cola, Johnson-Johnson, Nestle, Haier, Schneider, Perfect World and others.

“The Whole Brain® methodology and HBDI® assessments are integral to our offerings, enabling us to develop leadership programs that are tailor-made to a company’s specific issues and designed to deliver business results,” says Sophia Yeh, CEO of Whole Brain Leadership Management. “Greater alignment with the Herrmann Global team will help us continue to provide clients with innovative solutions while expanding our reach and impact. We're excited about the opportunity for more direct collaboration going forward.”

According to Karim Nehdi, Herrmann’s Head of Global Innovation, the two organizations also anticipate that the strengthened partnership will help accelerate current and ongoing innovation efforts at Herrmann Global to provide more technology-driven offerings and digital solutions to a new generation of global leaders.

“With the pace of technological advancement in today’s world, and with China frequently leading the way, we’re looking forward to working more closely with our colleagues at Whole Brain Leadership Management to find new ways to bring transformative thinking and better results to people around the world,” Nehdi says.

For more information about Whole Brain Leadership Management, visit: http://www.wholebrain.com.cn/

About Herrmann International
For more than three decades, Herrmann International has been at the forefront of the most progressive research exploring the connection between thinking preferences and business results. With its pioneering Whole Brain® Thinking approach, the company has turned this knowledge into practical, easy-to-apply training programs, tools and methods that help clients leverage their diversity of thought to achieve exponentially higher results. More than 70% of the Fortune 500, including 9 out of 10 of the Fortune 100, rely on Herrmann International’s thinking style assessments and learning methods to help them build their competitive advantage. More information: http://www.herrmannsolutions.com

IRA Financial Group, the leading provider of self-directed IRA and Solo 401(k) plans, expects to see an increase in demand for the self-directed solo 401(k) plan in 2017 because of higher annual maximum contribution limits. Under the 2017 Solo 401(k) contribution rules, a plan participant under the age of 50 can make a maximum annual employee deferral contribution in the amount of $18,000. That amount can be made in pre-tax, after-tax or Roth. On the profit sharing side, the business can make a 25% (20% in the case of a sole proprietorship or single member LLC) annual profit sharing contribution up to a combined maximum, including the employee deferral, of $54,000, an increase of $1,000 from 2016.

The annual Solo 401k contribution consists of two parts, an employee salary deferral contribution and an employer profit sharing contribution. In 2017 the total contribution limit for a Solo 401k will be $54,000 or $60,000 if age 50 or older. The total allowable contribution limits are combined to get the maximum Solo 401K contribution limit.

For plan participants over the age of 50, an individual can make a maximum annual employee deferral contribution in the amount of $24,000. That amount can be made in pre-tax, after tax, or Roth. On the profit sharing side, the business can make a 25% (20% in the case of a sole proprietorship or single member LLC) annual profit sharing contribution up to a combined maximum, including the employee deferral, of $60,000, an increase of $1,000 from 2016.

According to Adam Bergman, a partner with the IRA Financial Group, “the solo 401(k) plan offers the self-employed and small business owner with the greatest maximum retirement benefits compared to the SEP IRA and SIMPLE IRA, as well as the ability to borrow up to $50,000 tax-free and purchase alternative asset investments, such as real estate.“

IRA Financial Group’s self-directed IRA LLC and individual 401(k) plan offer retirement investors the ability to make traditional as well as alternative asset investments, such as real estate, from a local bank account without any transaction fees. “With IRA Financial Group self-directed retirement plans, making an investment is as easy as writing a check.” Stated Mr. Bergman.

IRA Financial Group is the market's leading provider of self-directed retirement plans. IRA Financial Group has helped thousands of clients take back control over their retirement funds while gaining the ability to invest in almost any type of investment, including real estate without custodian consent.

The IRA Financial Trust Company, a self-directed IRA custodian, was founded by Adam Bergman, a partner with the IRA Financial Group.

Adam Bergman, IRA Financial Group partner, has written six books the topic of self-directed retirement plans, including, “The Checkbook IRA”, “Going Solo,” Turning Retirement Funds into Start-Up Dreams, Solo 401(k) Plan in a Nutshell, Self-Directed IRA in a Nutshell, and in God We Trust in Roth We Prosper.

To learn more about the IRA Financial Group please visit our website at http://www.irafinancialgroup.com or call 800-472-0646.

Sterling Payment Technologies, a leading provider of payment processing, announced it has been recognized by Business Solutions Magazine as one of the Best Channel Vendors for 2017, ranking Sterling's payment processing among the nation's best. This year marks the ninth consecutive year that Sterling has received the honor in the category of payment processing.

“We are honored to be selected as Best Channel Vendor for nine years in a row,” said Paul Hunter, president and CEO at Sterling Payment Technologies. “We’re truly grateful to be recognized again this year. But even after nine years, Sterling continues to raise the bar. We are committed to providing the most advanced payment solutions, best-in-class technology, and the service and support our customers need to build their businesses.”

Business Solutions Magazine partnered with Penn State University to conduct the survey and analyze the results to ensure statistical accuracy. More than 5,300 validated votes were cast, making this one of the largest surveys of its kind. As with past years, only the top 5 percent of vendors were recognized with Best Channel Vendor honors. In this year’s survey, Sterling received exceptional marks for service and support, channel friendliness, product features, product reliability, product innovation, and VAR margins.

As a national payment processor, Sterling Payment Technologies is dedicated to providing fast, affordable and secure payment processing to merchants throughout the U.S. In addition to providing a complete range of credit, debit and gift programs, Sterling is an expert in easy payment integrations that include EMV solutions, P2P encryption, tokenization, out-of-scope solutions, mobile solutions, and cloud-based POS reporting platforms. The company’s focus on technology and service allows Sterling to provide superior customer support and a broad range of advanced solutions to its customers.

To learn more, contact Sterling Payment Technologies at (800) 383-0561 or visit http://www.sterlingpayment.com.

About Sterling Payment Technologies:

Founded in 2001, Sterling Payment Technologies is one of the most innovative, customer-focused payment processors in the industry. An 11-year integration partner with Datacap and a key partner with Ingenico for integrated payments, the company processes payment transactions for all major credit cards including Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover® and American Express®. Sterling is committed to providing POS resellers, developers and merchants with the most advanced payment solutions in the marketplace, including a complete range of electronic payment processing services, such as credit, debit, PIN debit, EMV, fleet, gift card, and electronic benefits transfer (EBT). The company has been recognized by Business Solutions Magazine as Best Channel Vendor for nine consecutive years, ranking Sterling's payment processing among the nation's best. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Sterling is represented in communities across the country by point-of-sale equipment dealers and software developers, independent sales offices, banks, and an internal sales team.

Contact:

Anton Wurr, Executive Director of Marketing
Sterling Payment Technologies
800-383-0561
anton(dot)wurr(at)sterlingpayment(dot)com

As the demand for healthy dining options filter into the pizza industry, fresh fruit and veggies often found in salads have become pizza toppings. Your Pie’s latest creation in the brand’s seasonal Craft Pie Series includes a pizza and salad with ingredients that mirror each other. In the New Year, the down-the-line brick oven pizza franchise is bringing the health-inspired pizza to their stores for their first Craft Pie Series of 2017. The series will be offered for a limited time at all Your Pie locations starting January 4.

“We’re thrilled to continue our tradition of innovation, both in the flavors of specialty pizza and having the opportunity to partner with local breweries throughout the communities we serve,” said Drew French, founder of Your Pie. “A health-conscious pizza is perfect for the new year, especially in regards to sticking to resolutions. We couldn’t resist, however, the decadent appeal of seasonal and fresh gelatos. We aren’t just about low-calorie or low-carb options, but about quality and transparent ingredients. This specialty pizza offering exemplifies our dedication to creating fresh and innovative pizzas.”

The new Pear Gorgonzola Pizza features an olive oil base with mozzarella and topped with spinach, caramelized onions, pecans and pear sprinkled with Gorgonzola. The accompanying salad includes spinach, caramelized onions, pecans, pears, Gorgonzola and is drizzled with pomegranate acai vinaigrette. Your Pie is pairing this delicious new menu item with local brews.

Other seasonal additions to the Craft Pie Series menu include the Pomegranate Meringue Gelatoâ€"a sweet compliment to the kick of the Pear Gorgonzola Pizza. The smooth and full-bodied gelato offers a fresh approach to the velvety and full-bodied dessert.

The Craft Pie Series has been a seasonal feature of the Your Pie menu since French opened the first fast-casual pizza concept in 2008, and since then, they’ve created popular pizza creations like the Slider Pie, a spin on the classic American cheeseburger; the Prosciutto Peach Pizza, which featured fresh peaches, prosciutto and a honey balsamic glaze; and the Fresh Fiesta Pieâ€"a deconstructed take on guacamole.

With the launch of the new Pear Gorgonzola Pizza, Your Pie will continue to encourage every store to partner up with a local charity of their choice as part of the Ins’pie’ering communities efforts. To make a positive impact on local communities, a portion of craft series profits will be donated back to a local charity.

“This is the perfect way to kick off the New Year, with a pie that combines both amazing taste and the flare so many are looking to inspire from a healthier lifestyle,” French said. “We can’t wait to introduce people to this amazing flavor combination to help them get 2017 started right.”

ABOUT YOUR PIE
Your Pie is the world’s originator of the fast casual, brick-oven, customized personal pizza category. A culinary entrepreneur since his teenage years, Your Pie founder Drew French combined his passion for innovative restaurant concepts with brick oven technology and his business acumen to create the highest quality pizza available at incredible speed. Drawing from family recipes from the island of Ischia, Your Pie uses hand-tossed dough, only fresh ingredients, homemade pizza sauces and salad dressings, and offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free pizzas, as well as traditional pizzas. The brand also offers local craft beer, wine and Italian-style gelato pairings designed to perfectly compliment the custom pies guests create. Diners at Your Pie have come to expect the best tasting pizza served with speed without sacrificing flavor from a brand that stands by its motto to “express your inner pizza." Named in 2016 to Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list, Your Pie now has nearly 40 locations open across 13 states and an additional 50 locations now in development. In each market, Your Pie places the highest emphasis on investing in the local communities it serves, and encourages diners to let their culinary creativity run wild. For more information about Your Pie or franchising opportunities, please visit http://www.yourpie.com.

The nation’s top 250 home builders are invited to gather at the inaugural NAHB Production Builder Executive Club. This exclusive session, an extension of the 2017 International Builders’ Show, will feature keynote speakers like Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran, networking opportunities and an array of educational dialogues. David Rice, founder of a leading national sales management firm, New Home Star, will lead a discussion on what it takes to build a world-class sales team.

Rice, a previous featured speaker at the 2013 and 2014 IBS, is honored to be part of this new event, sharing proven strategies designed for increasing sales revenue. “New Home Star has experienced humbling growth over the past few years, no doubt due to the strategies our sales professionals put into action every day,” he says. “To be part of a convention that holds such outstanding merit, and to be able to speak with top-notch builder executives, is truly exciting.”

IBS includes the world’s top industry distributors and suppliers, exhibiting the latest products and trends from across the globe. This year’s conference will be held in Orlando on January 10-12 at the Orange County Convention Center.

Rice is scheduled to speak at 10:00AM on Thursday, January 12 on the second level of the West Concourse in room W222. For more information, please contact info(at)newhomestar(dot)com or call 800-730-6170. To learn more about the Production Builder Executive Club, click here.

About New Home Star
New Home Star is a national real estate sales management firm serving homebuilders and developers across North America. They recruit, select and develop sales teams with a full-time focus on new home sales, and partner with large, midsize and small-scale homebuilders in the U.S. and Canada. With a network of local sales divisions from coast to coast, New Home Star delivers sales solutions for businesses with a national perspective and a local presence. Their business goal is simple: To Sell More Homes, More Profitablyâ,,¢. For the latest updates in new home sales, follow @newhomestar.

Southern Trust Mortgage (STM) is pleased to announce that Clare T. Crossan has joined STM as an AVP and Area Manager. She brings with her 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry. Clare began her career when she founded her own award-winning company, ACA Mortgage Company, in 1996. Clare continued to originate full-time to fulfill her passion for hands-on, personal service to her clients while leading the company as owner. She consistently exercised her premium level of care and expertise, as she helped move borrowers forward to their dream of home ownership.

Most recently, Clare worked for Prime Lending, A Plains Capital Company, as producing Branch Manager in the state of Delaware in June 2010. Clare gained market share for Prime Lending in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

It is this level of commitment and passion for the industry that brings Clare, with great pride, to her new role at STM. “Clare’s proven track record of leadership and dedication is beyond impressive. Her addition to the team will allow us to expand our footprint to a new region that has great potential for success. We are thrilled to offer our industry leading mortgage products to home buyers in Delaware,” said Jerry Flowers, STM CEO and President.

Southern Trust Mortgage is a mortgage banking company that was founded in 1998 by Mr. Flowers, and has branches throughout the East Coast. Southern Trust Mortgage, LLC (NMLS 2921) is proud to be an Equal Housing Lender.

EXHIBITOR Magazine announced the 2017 list of finalists for its fourth annual Portable/Modular Awards competition. In order to qualify, the displays had to be “modular, system or portable exhibits making their debut in the United States or abroad between Oct. 1, 2014, and Oct. 1, 2016, and [the contest] will be judged by a panel of world-renowned designers and marketing experts.” According to Travis Stanton, editor of EXHIBITOR Magazine, “this competition is intended to spotlight the most remarkable applications of these adaptable, reconfigurable, and easily deployed exhibits, while also raising the bar on portable/modular design.”

The Trade Group’s exhibit for Oilogic Essential Oil Care is a finalist in the “Best 10-by-10-Foot Exhibit” category, and the exhibit produced for Onkyo USA Corp is a finalist in the “Best Rental Exhibit” category. The People’s Choice Award voting is live on EXHIBITOR Magazine’s website, with voting allowed once per day.

Oilogic’s backlit, nursery-themed display took the floor at NACDS 2016 with a new design from The Trade Groupâ€"they were seeking a professional-looking exhibit that better reflected Oilogic’s brand personality and would highlight their products. The wow-factor for this display is in the light box used as a backdrop, which brings the nursery theme to life with its luminescent glow.

Onkyo USA Corp’s exhibit debuted their 50’x50’ custom exhibit at CEDIA 2016 with four key goals in mind: celebrate Onkyo’s 70th anniversary, raise brand awareness while positioning Onkyo as an industry leader, seamlessly feature both Onkyo and Integra product lines in one booth, and create an authentic home theater experience featuring their product lines. A strict budget was in order as well, so TTG designed the exhibit with economical, high-impact fabric walls to define the space and showcase the product lines.

Be sure to vote here!

Since 1986, The Trade Group has produced innovative, interactive solutions to tens of thousands of clients across the globe. With an emphasis on customer service, industry leadership and groundbreaking creative designs, The Trade Group has experienced exponential growth from year-to-year.

About The Trade Group

The Trade Group is a full-service, award-winning provider of products and services for trade shows, corporate events, retail environments and an endless array of face-to-face experiences. The organization helps clients share their unique stories through a comprehensive suite of solutions that includes: exhibit design and fabrication, graphic design and production, exhibit management, digital applications, video production, experiential environments, strategic marketing and more.

Just two days into a new Administration, “Directors Forum 2017: Directors, Management & Shareholders in Dialogue,” January 22-24, 2017, will feature four keynote speakers who will provide insights into the 2017 economy, the future of Dodd Frank, trade deals, minimum wage, the continuing expansion of investor activism, political and regulatory intervention, and geo-political unrest. These issues and more require boards and management to adapt and react quickly and astutely. This conference uniquely brings together directors, management and shareholders, three constituencies who seldom share the stage to express their divergent and sometimes contentious perspectives.

The conference offers attendees the opportunity to engage in conversation and idea sharing, in an intimate setting, with a diverse group of speakers that include policy makers and thought leaders in business and corporate governance.

Included in the speaker lineup are four noteworthy keynote speakers:

    Stephen Moore, distinguished visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation and economic advisor to President-elect Trump, will share insights into the economic outlook for 2017 and anticipated changes in Dodd Frank, tax reform, minimum wage and trade deals.
    Hon. Karen Valihura, Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court, will discuss legal trends coming out of the most authoritative business court in the world and how they will impact business.
    David Sokol, Chair & CEO, Teton Capital LLC; former Berkshire Hathaway; Chair & CEO, NetJets; and Chair, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. Sokol will discuss how boards can improve their performance (but often lack the guts to do so), the important role of activists and the critical need to retain a freedom based capitalistic system in America.
    Clifton Robbins, Founder & CEO of Blue Harbour Group L.P., will talk about how companies make themselves a target for activism and how they can work with an activist, should they come knocking.

The conference, held at the University of San Diego, uniquely brings shareholders together with directors and management. Attendance at the event is limited by design to encourage personal interaction between attendees and the nation's leading corporate governance authorities.

“The Directors Forum conference is the venue for directors, shareholders, and the C-suite executivesâ€"constituents who do not generally see eye to eyeâ€"to listen to, and be heard by, top corporate governance thought leaders in the U.S.,” said Larry Stambaugh, program co-chair. “Don’t miss the opportunity to take part in this unique, off-the-record setting, and help shape the dialogue and direction in 2017.”

Directors Forum 2017 is open to the public, and general ticket prices are $2,050 per person if paid before Jan. 6, 2017, and $2,350 after that date. There is also a “Register 3, Get 1 Free” promotion. Corporate Directors Forum and Forum for Corporate Directors [of Orange County] members receive a $300 discount off the registration fee. For questions, please call (858) 455-7930, or register online at directorsforum.com/directors-forum-conference/.

Corporate Directors Forum is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization found in 1991. Its purpose is to help directors and those who support them build more effective boards through continuous learning and peer networking. Corporate Directors Forum believes better directors make boards more effective, and more effective boards make better corporations.

 GlobeTax announces the launch of ESP Dashboard, an integrated tax-relief event monitoring tool. The dashboard is a cutting-edge upgrade to ESP, the standard platform for beneficial owner disclosure and applications for withholding tax relief. The platform will create a custom work flow for each DTCC Participant, providing the ability to initiate a claim with just one click.

Presently, ESP contains data for all DTCC Participants on tax relief events for ADRs and other non-U.S. companies, including Irish companies listed in the U.S. and Spanish companies that issue U.S. listed debt. ESP Dashboard will provide a tailored display of each Participant’s record date positions with events reaching a deadline over the next thirty business days. This will help users ensure that they make timely relief at source, quick refund and/or long-form submissions. Frequent or daily users will find that ESP Dashboard provides them with a roadmap for prioritizing claims and helps reduce the risk of missing a deadline.

Brett Lewis, GlobeTax’s Executive Director of Product Development, stated, “Introduction of ESP Dashboard, a customized, user-friendly task management tool, highlights GlobeTax’s commitment to innovation with a focus on the client experience. The ESP Dashboard technology further advances the automation of tax relief processes and provides an efficient way for ESP users to interact with GlobeTax. The dashboard is now the DTCC Participants’ comprehensive one-stop source for ADR dividend event and DTCC Important Notice information.”

GlobeTax will be hosting a series of educational webinars to demonstrate ESP Dashboard. Please click on a link below to register for a webinar at the specified date and time:

Tuesday, January 3 2:00 PM â€" 2:30 PM EST
Wednesday, January 4 10:00 â€" 10:30 AM EST
Thursday, January 5 2:00 PM â€" 2:30 PM EST
Tuesday, January 10 2:00 PM â€" 2:30 PM EST
Thursday, January 12 2:00 PM â€" 2:30 PM EST

DTCC Participants may register for ESP by visiting https://esp.globetax.com/

About GlobeTax
GlobeTax is the global leader in cross-border tax relief, recovery and reporting services for the investment community. GlobeTax’s ESP system has become the standard platform for beneficial owner disclosure and applications for withholding tax relief, handling over six million submissions in 2016. The ESP platform supports the GlobeTax’s position as the market infrastructure for claims on all American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). GlobeTax researches tax treaties in over 240 jurisdictions to provide tax recovery for clients resident in over 40 countries. Clients include all types of beneficial owners, custodians, prime brokers, depositories, depositaries and withholding agents.

For more information, contact:
MediaRoom(at)GlobeTax(dot)com

Leading supply chain service provider, NFI, announced the 2016 year end acquisition of Canadian 3PL, Dominion Warehousing & Distribution. NFI, headquartered in N.J. with facilities and operations throughout North America, is one of the largest privately held integrated supply chain solutions providers in North America.

The Dominion acquisition will increase NFI’s Canadian-based revenue to over $125 million and will continue to expand its Canadian service offering which includes freight brokerage, global freight forwarding, asset-based transportation, and value added warehousing and distribution. NFI currently operates distribution centers throughout North America, providing customers uniquely engineered supply chain solutions. The acquisition brings NFI’s warehousing footprint total to over 31 million square feet, including approximately 2 million square feet of physical locations in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver added by the Dominion acquisition.

“We are excited for Dominion to join NFI and continue our growth in the Canadian market which is core to our overall strategy. We will add new, blue-chip customers to our portfolio and at the same time provide our existing customers additional warehousing capacity in these markets,” said Sid Brown, NFI CEO.

“NFI’s long history as a family owned and operated company with a customer-centered focus made it the right fit for Dominion,” says Dominion President & General Manager, Robert Dineen. “Our 250 employees will feel at home as NFI continues to grow its warehousing and distribution services across North America.”

“Dominion provides a great opportunity for NFI to enter into new industries like specialty paints and chemicals and expand existing ones,” says NFI President of Distribution, Kevin Patterson. “The acquisition increases our footprint and also expands our capabilities in these sectors.”

# # #

About NFI -- NFI is a fully integrated supply chain solutions provider headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. Privately held by the Brown family since its inception in 1932, NFI generates more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 8,000 associates. NFI owns facilities globally and operates 31 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space. Its company-owned fleet consists of over 2,000 tractors and 8,200 trailers, operated by more than 2,600 company drivers and 250 owner operators. Its business lines include dedicated transportation, warehousing, intermodal, brokerage, transportation management, global logistics, and real estate services. For more information about NFI, visit http://www.nfiindustries.com or call 1-877-NFI-3777.

SC&H Group, a leading audit, tax, and consulting firm, announced that Mack McGee has joined the firm as its Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.

In this role, McGee will further align the firm’s sales and marketing efforts to support all service lines and their respective growth strategies. This will include leveraging new marketing innovations to enhance overall brand awareness, expand firm relationships, and promote lead generation.

Prior to joining SC&H Group, McGee served as Executive Vice President and Principal at Groove, a Baltimore-based creative agency. In this position, he was instrumental in growing the agency’s business by consulting on key accounts, driving internal leadership development, and overseeing the customer experience.

“Mack brings an innovative approach to aligning marketing and sales as it relates to growth,” said Ron Causey, CEO and Co-Founder of SC&H Group. “We look forward to utilizing his expertise in order to develop new marketing strategies that will further expand our voice and reach in the industry.”

“SC&H Group is comprised of passionate professionals who are serious about clients, culture, and the community,” said McGee. “I am honored to join such an outstanding organization, and look forward to helping create an effective platform for more companies to learn about the great things we are doing to enable client growth, and success through our breadth of services.”

Prior to his position at Groove, McGee was responsible for lead generation and business development for a staffing and recruitment firm, and was a Weekend Sports Producer for Baltimore-based NBC affiliate WBAL-TV.

McGee currently serves as a Board Member of the Special Olympics Maryland and The Maryland Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He is a graduate of The University of Maryland, College Park.

About SC&H Group
SC&H Group is an audit, tax, and consulting firm applying “expertise that works” to minimize risk and maximize value. SC&H Group’s practices advise leading companies from emerging businesses to the Fortune 500 on accounting, tax, profitability, and business process solutions. Clients in all states and worldwide benefit from SC&H Group’s commitment to delivering powerful minds, passionate teams, and proven results on each and every engagement. http://www.scandh.com

Nelson, a leader in California’s staffing and recruiting industry, today announced the appointment of Jim Wagner as senior vice president. In this role, Wagner will oversee two Nelson divisions that focus on specialty staffing and workforce solutions: Nelson & Associates (serving the accounting, finance and legal fields) and Nelson Technology (serving the technology and engineering fields). Wagner takes over the role after the previous senior vice president of Nelson & Associates, Joe Madigan, was promoted to executive vice president of Nelson and assumed organization-wide strategic leadership responsibilities.

“In addition to his extensive staffing industry experience and expertise in finance and accounting, Jim shares the same values and work ethic as the rest of us here at Nelson,” said Madigan. “I am excited to have his depth of knowledge on our team, and I look forward to working together to help Nelson & Associates and Nelson Technology continue to prosper under his guidance.”

Wagner started his career as a corporate controller before entering the world of staffing in 1996 by joining a Fortune 500 professional staffing firm. From owning an accounting and finance search firm to his most recent role as a territory vice president for one of the top ten largest global staffing companies, Wagner brings significant experience to the Nelson & Associates team. He was born in the Bay Area and has worked in leadership roles that have taken him from Southern California to Silicon Valley.

“Nelson has a tremendous reputation in the world of professional staffing services,” said Wagner. “I look forward to working with the Nelson team to leverage this reputation to expand our service reach and help more companies with their workforce needs in accounting, finance, legal, technology and engineering.”

To learn more about Nelson’s team or services, visit http://www.nelsonjobs.com.

About Nelson
For nearly five decades, Nelson’s specialized teams have provided innovative workforce solutions to help companies efficiently build and manage their teams. The company collaboratively identifies and constructs flexible, scalable staffing and payroll programs to help partners rapidly adjust to shifting workforce needs and priorities. Nelson’s partners include businesses and organizations of all sizes in nearly all industries, throughout California and beyond. As a family-owned company and one of the largest independent staffing companies in the U.S., Nelson is committed to community involvement and investment while building the future world of work.

In honor of three Oklahoma City-area grand openings, Planet Fitness will present a $5,000 oversized check to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County.

The gift will be given at a ribbon cutting ceremony taking place on Thursday, January 19 at 10 a.m., inside of Planet Fitness’ new Midwest City location at 5701 E. Reno Ave. The donation represents the health club’s commitment to investing in the local community through a number of goodwill initiatives.

“We’re so proud to support the amazing work being done by Boys & Girls Clubs to make the world a happier, healthier and more judgement-free place,” said Trey Owen, CEO of United PF Partners.

Planet Fitness has recently been extending its judgement-free philosophy outside of its gyms and into communities with its philanthropic initiative, “Judgement Free Generationâ,,¢.” Together with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the nation’s leading youth development organization, supporting millions of kids and teens during the critical out-of-school time, and STOMP Out Bullying, the leading anti-bullying organization in the U.S., Planet Fitness aims to empower a generation of teens to grow up contributing to a more judgement-free planetâ€"a place where everyone feels accepted and like they belong. To date, Planet Fitness and its franchisees have raised more than $1 million for Boys & Girls Clubs of America & STOMP Out Bullying.

The ribbon cutting also celebrates two other recently-opened Planet Fitness locations in addition to the Midwest City club, with one in Oklahoma City’s Quail Plaza at 10908 N. May Ave. and another in Edmond at 2209 W. Edmond Road. The fast-growing health club franchise is known for its Judgement Free Zone® and affordability, with memberships priced at only $10 a month. All three clubs opened in December of 2016, joining four other Planet Fitness locations already operating in the Oklahoma City area.

Now through January 11 new members can join any of the seven OKC-area Planet Fitness clubs for just $1 down and then $10 down a month with no commitment. These new clubs feature an extensive selection of cardio equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, arc trainers and stationary bikesâ€"all pointed at 70-inch televisions for member entertainment while working out. Planet Fitness also offers a popular 30-minute PF Express circuit room, dedicated abs and stretching room, a full complement of user-friendly strength equipment and locker rooms that include day-use lockers, private changing rooms and tile showers. All three clubs will be open and staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Being home of the Judgement Free Zone® also means that Planet Fitness’ commitment to anti-bullying is felt within the interior of its clubs. Members can expect to experience a no-hassle, non-intimidating environment. Each club features the brand’s iconic “Lunk Alarm”â€"a purple and yellow siren on the wall used as a light-hearted, gentle reminder that grunting, dropping weights or judging others is not permitted.

And because value is prioritized at Planet Fitness, a Black Card® membership will be offered at $19.99 a month. It includes added amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, access to more than 1,200 clubs in the Planet Fitness chain, as well as use of massage chairs*, HydroMassage beds*, tanning* and Total Body Enhancement booths* and 50 percent off select cooler drinks*.

For more information or to join online, please visit http://www.planetfitness.com or follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/PlanetFitness) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/PlanetFitness).

*PF Black Card® amenities may vary by location but are included in Midwest City, Quail Plaza and Edmond.

###

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of September 30, 2016, Planet Fitness had more than 8.7 million members and more than 1,200 stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Dominican Republic. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 90% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

GlobeTax, the world’s leading provider of cross-border tax relief, recovery and reporting services to the financial services and investment community, is pleased to announce that Thomas Grande has joined the firm’s New York team as a Director of Sales. In his new role, Mr. Grande will help expand GlobeTax’s business development efforts.

Martin S. Foont, GlobeTax’s President & CEO, commented: “Tom comes to GlobeTax with extensive asset servicing industry knowledge which spans across many different client segments. We are excited about his consultative approach to working with clients."

Tom Grande is a former Director at Navigant Consulting and possesses over 25 years of experience within the asset servicing industry. During his time there, he was often called upon as a subject matter expert for matters related to custodial banking and corporate trust services. Prior to Navigant, he held executive positions at both JP Morgan and BNY Mellon, successfully leading and managing large scale operational outsourcing initiatives.

During his career, Tom has successfully leveraged technology and managed project teams to help clients realize meaningful cost savings, reduce risks, and manage compliance challenges. “I have found that a partnership approach works best when engaging with clients. Developing trust in my client relationships has enabled me to guide them through meaningful regulatory and operational changes and to help them reduce operational risks,” he said. “I’m excited to be at a firm that also believes the best client relationships are those managed as partnerships.”

Tom has participated in numerous industry roundtables and published articles for Pension and Investments such as, “Technology Outsourcing Without Giving Away the Farm.” He has also contributed to many financial services trade publications in matters related outsourcing and asset servicing.

A Boston native, he graduated from Northeastern University and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and kayaking with his three children.

About GlobeTax

GlobeTax is the world’s trusted provider of research, relief, tax recovery and information reporting services for financial institutions and their cross-border investor clients. The firm is the market infrastructure for all claims on American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). GlobeTax researches tax treaties in over 240 jurisdictions in order to provide tax recovery for clients resident in over forty countries. Clients include all types of beneficial owners, custodians, prime brokers, depositories, depositaries and withholding agents. The firm, founded in 1992, is based in New York, with offices in London, Hong Kong, Madrid and Sydney.

StandUpPouches.net, the leading online supplier of flexible packaging, has introduced a new brand identity, including a refreshed logo and website, to coincide with its expanded growth and outreach to new markets.

The company’s new logo features a sleek and illustrative rendering of the letter “A,” accented by a dynamic upward-facing arrow, to reflect the marrying of the StandUpPouches.net brand with its parent company, ABC Packaging Direct LLC.

StandUpPouches.net retained its signature orange and black color scheme, adjusting the hue and contrast on both shades in the new logo to signify an evolution of the company while maintaining brand recognition.

The merging of the two brand identities into one cohesive logo was a strategic move to communicate that the supplier’s clientele receives the same level of high-quality customer service, support and project execution from its packaging partner no matter the company’s size, budget or reach. Whether a customer is interested in ordering a case of plain stock flexible pouches for the first time, or is evolving to create thousands of fully customized flexible bags, the supplier's user-friendly online hub makes it easy to obtain the packaging option appropriate for each CPG brand.

"We work closely with our customers to make packaging a key part of their branding and marketing strategies," said Mallory Fetchu, Marketing Director at StandUpPouches.net. "We understand how important it is to refresh not only a logo or website, but each component of a brand's image to reflect current trends and meet consumers' needs."

The flexible packaging supplier’s updated look is reflected on its customer-facing website, StandUpPouches.net, which now features a more streamlined responsive design that functions uniformly across all devices. A deliberate focus on strong visual elements increases ease of navigation, leading visitors to specified areas to quickly and more efficiently request a quote for custom printed pouches, order free samples of fully functional flexible packaging or place orders in StandUpPouches.net’s online store.

The packaging supplier’s team worked closely with Inbound Design Studio to create the updated website design. Jamie Berling, StandUpPouches.net Digital Marketing Manager, produced the central visual element on the website’s homepage, an interactive slideshow highlighting the brand’s most innovative, forward-thinking packaging options. The slideshow incorporates video, animation, calls-to-action and high-quality images that create more experiential visits and easily guide guests through the website in a sleek and visually appealing manner.

StandUpPouches.net aims to provide not only full-service, customized packaging options to customers, but also and an abundance of educational resources and 24/7 support from its Ohio-based staff. The updated website serves as an integral online portal that assures customers’ needs are met and requests are handled quickly, easily and effectively.

Visit StandUpPouches.net

About StandUpPouches.net
StandUpPouches.net is a leading online supplier of flexible retail packaging solutions for many of the world's largest brands. By partnering with small and mid-market businesses, the company has helped its customers build their brands and successfully market their products using the finest printed pouches in the industry.

Metrobank group eyeing Bohol for power plant
Manila Times, May 10, 2010

THE Metrobank Group is looking at Bohol as a potential site for another coal-fired power plant.

Carlos Itable, Bohol I Electric Cooperative Inc. (BOHECO I) general manager, said that the lender's power unit, Cebu Energy Development Corp. (CEDC), recently met with the cooperative to discuss the possibility of putting up a coal plant in the island.

"I told them they should put up a plant here because we still have a shortage of 60 megawatts," he said, adding that the power firm indicated that it may be able to put up an 82-megawatt generating unit after a year.

iWorkGlobal, an enterprising industry leader in global employment services, today announced the addition of Sarah Lovelace-Strahl to the company’s sales team. One of several notable recent new hires helping iWorkGlobal capitalize on world-class industry talent, Lovelace-Strahl joins the company’s team to further elevate sales efforts in the domestic and global marketplace and accelerate its already exponential growth.

“Sarah’s extremely innovative sales approach has allowed her to rapidly develop deep networks of industry contacts,” said Jeff Phelps, chief executive officer of iWorkGlobal. “This ambitious, agile approach compliments the efforts of the existing iWorkGlobal team as we prioritize innovation and development of new solutions and industry-leading technology. I look forward to working with Sarah in this newly created role to help us expand the influence and reach of iWorkGlobal at an even more rapid pace.”

Lovelace-Strahl comes to iWorkGlobal most recently from a software company providing vendor management system solutions for contingent labor. Prior to this role, Lovelace-Strahl held positions in human capital management, gaining significant experience in sales for SaaS solutions, business intelligence and professional services. She also co-founded a management consulting firm where she helped human capital management technology companies launch new offerings, compete more effectively and optimize business performance.

“The opportunity iWorkGlobal has to lead the global workforce revolution is incredible, making this the perfect time to join the company,” said Lovelace-Strahl. “I look forward to helping grow iWorkGlobal’s reputation as an innovative industry leader in workforce management solutions.”

Sarah is one of several professionals recently welcomed to the iWorkGlobal team to continue the company’s pattern of award-winning rapid expansion. Recently named a Fastest Growing Company of the Year by the Golden Bridge Awards, iWorkGlobal has capitalized on increasing globalization and continued strong global economic markets to solidify and further its position at the forefront of the constantly evolving world of global employment.

About iWorkGlobal
iWorkGlobal makes expanding internationally simple and safe by providing one-of-a-kind, employer-of-record solutions, freelancer classification assessment, and payroll services in over 170 countries. Through our international network of best-in-class partners, we bring you in-market expertise and guidance everywhere you need your workforce to be. To learn more about how our technology-enabled, high-touch services will help you mitigate risk, control costs, and cut through the red tape surrounding global expansion, visit http://www.iworkglobal.com.

Carpet One Floor & Home collaborated with top industry experts and interior designers to compile and organize 2017’s top flooring trends by room. Though the preferred flooring type varies by space, the overarching trend in the coming year is the continued movement toward natural styles. Products that evoke the look of naturally derived fibers, while simultaneously maintaining a sense of luxury continue to be top sellers. This trend supports the demand by homeowners to create spaces within their homes that are not just visually appealing, but nurture a sense of well-being and comfort.

Living

For the main living area, hardwood will continue to reign king in 2017. Expect to see styles with increasing color variation, along with the continued popularity of reclaimed and re-purposed looks. Additionally, there will be a growing trend toward longer, wider planks, along with the use of various widths from plank-to-plank. For color, the warm gray spectrum, spanning both light and dark values, will continue to drive volume in flooring and home furnishing alike, as will tone-on-tone colors that showcase the natural characteristics respective of the type of wood.

Kitchen

2017 design trends show that the kitchen is being transformed into a thoughtfully designed, open-concept living space. This transformation requires flooring that bears more resemblance to adjacent living areas. This has stimulated and will continue to stimulate the use of hardwood within the kitchen. Engineered hardwood will remain a top choice; however, wood-look luxury vinyl and laminate flooring options give homeowners beautiful wood replications with the additional benefits of durability, water and stain resistance, and comfort. Another flooring category that is following the wood-look trend is tile. The once top choice of flooring in kitchens is making a comeback with beautiful wood prints and the ability of unique installation patterns.

Bed

For the bedroom, carpet still remains a staple, whether it is wall-to-wall or a large area rug over hard surface flooring. In 2017, carpet styles will combine organic textural qualities with luxurious, lustrous accents. This trending construction falls in line with a general movement in home décor toward materials and textiles that are derived or which evoke a sense of organic and natural elements. For example, advances in tufting technologies are allowing carpet designs to mimic the look of natural sisal, while maintaining a soft, velvety feel. For color, expect to see increasing use of striations to, again, evoke the look of natural woods and stone, combining beiges, golds, grays and taupe fibers.

Bath

Ceramic and porcelain tile has long been a top choice for bathroom spaces. In 2017, tile that mimics the look of wood or stone will continue to build momentum. Weathered wood and luxe marble looks will continue to gain popularity, as will the use of mosaic style tiling. Additionally, the use of engineered stone and luxury vinyl to mimic the trending styles within the wood and stone categories will also be prominent throughout 2017.

To view examples of these trends, please visit Carpet One Floor & Home’s Inspiration Gallery. For more home design trends, the 2017 Trend Issue of Beautiful Design Made Simple is available for download and online reading now.

Novogradac & Company LLP, an accounting and consulting firm with 25 offices nationwide, has elevated five members of the firm to principal. The firm, which specializes in affordable housing, community development, historic preservation and renewable energy, is proud to announce the promotions of Abby Cohen in the Washington, D.C., metro office; Matt Lockhart in the New York City office; Ashley McKenzie in the Dover, Ohio, office; Dipika Patel in the San Francisco office; and Alicia Sacko in the Cleveland office to principal.

“My partners and I are pleased to announce the promotions of Abby, Alicia, Ashley, Dipika and Matt to principal. We are proud of the considerable contributions that these individuals have made to the firm,” said Michael J. Novogradac, CPA, the firm’s managing partner. “These professionals have taken great strides in working to better serve our existing clients, while creating relationships with new clients. Their hard work and dedication is what enables the firm to continue to be an industry leader in affordable housing, community development, historic preservation and renewable energy.”

Ms. Cohen works in the valuation consulting, market research and government services division of Novogradac & Company LLP. She has extensive experience performing market feasibility studies, appraisals, rent comparability studies and consulting services for a broad cross-section of clients in the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) industry, including developers, lenders, syndicators and state agencies. She also works extensively in the historic tax credit (HTC) and new markets tax credit (NMTC) industries, preparing reasonableness opinions related to the IRS Revenue Procedure 2014-12 safe harbor ruling. Ms. Cohen received a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and is a frequent speaker at various industry events. She is a designated member of the National Council of Housing Market Analysts and the DC Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women and is licensed as a certified general appraiser.

Mr. Lockhart specializes in both the real estate and renewable energy industries. Mr. Lockhart has significant audit and tax experience, which includes traditional financial statement audit and tax preparation services, as well as special-purpose final cost certifications audits for low-income housing and renewable energy clients. Additionally, Mr. Lockhart has assisted developers and investors in transaction structuring for LIHTC, HTC and renewable energy tax credit (RETC) transactions. In the affordable housing industry, he has worked with developers and investors in structuring acquisition/rehabilitation transactions, including those using LIHTCs, tax-exempt bond financing and restructuring of nonprofit-owned developments into affordable housing partnerships. In the renewable energy industry, he has assisted developers in structuring transactions for solar and wind projects using Treasury grant proceeds, investment tax credits (ITCs) and production tax credits (PTCs). He earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in accounting and philosophy from the University of Scranton. He is licensed in New Jersey and New York as a certified public accountant.

Ms. McKenzie has experience with institutional investors, syndicators, insurers and specializes in the LIHTC industry. Her experience includes assisting clients with attestation services, tax return preparation, transaction structuring and underwriting, due diligence, forecasting and consulting on tax and accounting issues. Ms. McKenzie earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Kent State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Ashland University. She is licensed as a certified public accountant in Ohio.

Ms. Patel provides audit, tax and consulting services to numerous organizations, including real estate firms, nonprofit organizations, corporations and investment companies. Her experience includes assisting clients with attestation services, tax return preparation, transaction structuring and underwriting, forecasting and consulting on tax and accounting issues. Before joining Novogradac & Company LLP, she received a bachelor’s degree in business economics with an accounting emphasis and law and society from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is licensed in California as a certified public accountant.

Ms. Sacko specializes in providing financial statement audits, tax return preparation and cost certification audits to LIHTC clients, including those subject to the regulatory requirements from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and HTC industries. She works with syndicators specializing in equity fund audit and tax services. Ms. Sacko received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Notre Dame College and is licensed in Ohio as a certified public accountant.

Novogradac & Company LLP began operations in 1989 and has since grown to more than 500 employees and partners with offices in San Francisco, San Rafael, Walnut Creek and Long Beach, Calif.; Dover, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; St. Louis; Boston; New York; Chicago; Austin and Dallas, Texas; Portland, Ore.; Naples, Fla., Raleigh, N.C.; Toms River and Iselin, N.J.; and the greater metropolitan areas of Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Detroit; Kansas City, Mo.; and Seattle. Specialty practice areas include tax, audit and consulting services for tax-credit-assisted affordable housing, community revitalization, rehabilitation of historic properties and renewable energy. Other areas of expertise include business valuation, preparation and analysis of market studies and appraisals of multifamily housing and renewable energy investments.

For additional information on Novogradac & Company LLP’s personnel and areas of expertise, visit http://www.novoco.com or call (415) 356-8000.

Integrated Digital Strategies (IDS) CEO Stephen Galligan announced today that seasoned digital marketer, Kim Gobbi, has joined the company as its Chief Operating Officer. Headquartered in Massachusetts, IDS also has offices in Utah, Florida, and Bulgaria. Its primary client base draws from franchisors across the United States with a growing emphasis in Asia and Europe.

In her role as Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Gobbi will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team where she will lead IDS’s day-to-day operations and execute on the vision of providing scalable marketing solutions. Gobbi will be responsible for the alignment and delivery of IDS’s services across all accounts and with its partners.

“We are excited to have Kim join IDS as we look to increase efficiencies across all aspects of operations.” said Galligan. “Ms. Gobbi’s strong focus on performance analytics and her deep knowledge of marketing strategy will be vital for us and will serve to guide solutions for account growth and acquisition during this exciting period of market expansion.”

Kim comes to IDS with more than a decade of experience initiating transformative solutions in agency, retail, and entrepreneurial environments. Formally a Director of Marketing and Senior Account Manager, Gobbi has a proven record of igniting and accelerating revenue streams by leveraging partnership opportunities and expanding service offerings.

Gobbi has additionally held numerous leadership and executive committee roles within her community, including Chairwoman of the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is the state’s 10th largest chamber.

About Integrated Digital Strategies
Integrated Digital Strategies provides complete marketing management of all aspects of digital marketing for businesses and franchisors. IDS provides a portfolio of products and services that increase a company’s online presence and serve to market their opportunities, products, or services. IDS’s industry expertise is principally focused with in the sphere of franchise development; product offerings include, inbound marketing solution, website design and development, SEO, SEM, and Paid Social Media, as well as strategic brand positioning.

For more information on Integrated Digital Strategies, visit http://www.idigitalstrategies.com/ or call (855) 256-2635.

Nead, LLC â€"a unique M&A advisory firmâ€"announces the expansion of the company’s merger and acquisition advisory internship program for 2017. The expanded program will offer unique and high quality internships for finance and accounting undergraduate and graduate students on a nationwide basis, allowing active students to gain exposure to several different interesting areas of corporate finance across the middle market. The internship program at Nead, LLC is being expanded in several different ways. First, the number of available internships is being greatly expanded to up to 100 interns from the current threshold of 30. Second, the firm is greatly expanding its training tools and documentation for everything from business valuations to pitchbook creation for corporate clients. Lastly, the company has added expanded Associated and Director-level assistants to help in training interns as trainings for full-time positions inside and outside the company.

As the total number of interns has expended, the company has also expanded its training and human capital ability to help manage the internship teams as they interact with active buy and sell-side M&A mandates. In doing so, Nead & Co. Associates, Analysts and Directors have prepared extensive documentation on internal processes to help streamline standard operating procedures for managing larger numbers of interns.

Some of the expanded operating documentation the company has added in recent months includes documentation on performing specific types of business valuations, including market multiples and discounted cash flow analysis, in assisting company owners in knowing what their business is worth prior to a complete M&A exit. In addition, the company has gathered extensive pitchbook information as well, to give interns the ability to streamline intern training on creating decks for all types of investment banking and M&A transactions.

“We are excited at the prospects of expanding our internship program for the coming year,” says Jon Castano of Nead & Co. “We continue to have great experiences with some of the best and brightest financial interns from some high-quality schools,” he says. “As we continue to grow our program, we hope to provide meaningful experiences for our interns so as to prepare them for full-time opportunities either at the firm or elsewhere.”

About Nead & Co.

Nead, LLC is a middle-market advisory firm combining M&A, capital formation and financial technology for firms with revenue less than $100M a year. The company has worked across multiple industries including software & technology, oil & gas, healthcare & medicine, real estate, financial services, business services and consumer goods. The firm has an expanded network of finance, accounting and technology professionals assisting companies with their capital transaction needs.

Total nonfarm payroll employment for the month of November reached 178,000 jobs, a 25 percent increase over October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Economic Situation Report released on Friday, December 2, 2016.

“Employment gains for the month of November were most notable in the professional and business services, health care, and leisure and hospitality sectors,” said Jay Rollins, owner of JobsWeb.com, a leading employment website. “Many other sectors also experienced gains last month, however, the growth compared to the month prior was minimal.”

Employment in the professional and business services sector increased by 68,000 jobs in November with the majority of job gains occurring in administrative support services (+36,000). Health care employment increased by 28,000 jobs, with 22,000 jobs occurring within ambulatory services. Leisure and hospitality gained 29,000 jobs. Employment in other major industries, including mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, and government changed little over the month.

“November was a great month for those working in logistics,” said Rollins. “While the BLS only reported a gain of 5,700 jobs for the month, the JobsWeb.com job board routinely saw an upturn in the number of logistics job postings each week, making it the most-recruited sector for the month.”

In November, the unemployment rate dropped by 0.3 percent to 4.6 percent while the number of unemployed persons declined by 387,000 to 7.4 million.

About JobsWeb.com:

JobsWeb.com is the leading employment website for professionals in every industry, including advertising, construction, government and real estate. JobsWeb.com is updated daily with thousands of employment listings. Users can create a profile, upload their resume, apply to positions and engage in our social communities. Employers can post job listings opportunities and browse a resume bank for applicants. Thousands of new jobs are listed each month by geographic location and specialty, including accounting jobs, marketing jobs, creative design, engineering, human resources, manufacturing and project management.

The IT industry added 7,700 jobs in November, a 45 percent drop compared to October’s monthly job gains, according to preliminary numbers released by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Economic Situation Report on Friday, December 2, 2016.

“The IT industry’s drop in job gains is largely attributed to a loss of 2,100 jobs in data processing,” said Jay Rollins, owner of ITJobsWeb.com, a leading IT jobs website. “Computer systems design and technical consulting also had minimal gains compared to previous months.”

IT job data is collected from 4 unrelated sectors: the data processing, hosting and related services subsector, the computer electronic product manufacturing subsector, the computer systems design and related services subsector, and the management and technical consulting services subsector.

The data processing, hosting and related services subsectors’ loss of 2,100 jobs in November comes after a small gain of 400 jobs in October. “Over the past 12 months, the data processing sector has lost 2,600 jobs,” Rollins said. “The sectors has fluctuated between gains and losses almost every month this year.”

Similarly, the computer and electronic product manufacturing subsector gained 900 jobs in November after having lost the same amount in October.

Computer systems design and related services gained 5,400 jobs in November, while management and technical consulting gained 3,500 jobs.

About ITJobsWeb.com:

ITJobsWeb.com is the leading IT jobs website for IT professionals. ITJobsWeb.com is updated daily with thousands of employment listings in the technology sector. Users can create a profile, upload their resume, apply to positions and engage in our social communities. Employers can post technology and computer job listings opportunities and browse a resume bank for applicants. Thousands of new IT jobs are listed each month by geographic location and specialty, including engineering jobs, software development, system design, server administration, security, Oracle, and Java.

The current business environment is consumed with fast paced decisions, stressful situations, and sometimes sheer chaos. Approximately 20 years ago businesses only competed with other businesses via Television and print marketing. Today however, it is undeniable that the internet is the primary platform that all businesses must acknowledge, respect, and compete.

Everyday millions of people are online searching for and buying products and services that they would like to have or use. This fact results in millions of dollars in transactions every day which demands the attention of anyone in business desiring to expand consumer reach. The challenge is not that most businesses do not recognize this, they just do not know who they can talk to or trust to fight on their behalf for their business online.

Holts Brothers Internet Marketing Solutions Inc. is a professional Sacramento SEO company that provides SEO services to local Sacramento businesses. When the company was established in 2014, the founder’s vision was to develop a company that businesses could solicit and know they were getting the help they needed. Holts Brothers has aggressively adopted and established processes that allow local Sacramento businesses to understand their online shortfalls and the resolutions.

Their company emphasizes the importance of utilizing organic SEO vs paid advertising and harness keywords that businesses can use to increase consumer traffic. Execution of these solutions position businesses to effectively compete in their desired niche. Holts Brothers' goal to be one of the best SEO companies in Sacramento with a passion to see business owners succeed and surpass the goals they thought were not achievable.

Holts Brothers pursues the vision of developing a business community of prospering owners. While Holts Brothers is located in Sacramento with eyes to dominate the SEO niche in Sacramento, they also work with local businesses across the nation. As a member of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau this company looks forward to establishing local SEO dominance while building and sustaining strong relationships with professionals and business owners.

For more information about Holts Brothers and search engine optimization in Sacramento please contact Holts Brothers at the following information below.
Holts Brother Internet Marketing Solutions Inc.
770 L St Ste 950
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel.: 1-888-937-5053
Email: contact(at)hbimsinc(dot)com
Website:http://hbimsinc.com/sacramento-seo

Limassol, Cyprus (PRWEB) December 30, 2016

The annual Christmas dinner of Windsor Brokers took place mid December at the Richard and Berengaria Ballroom of the Carob Mill in Limassol with Guest of Honour, His Excellency, the Cyprus Minister of Finance, Mr. Haris Georgiades.

Windsor Brokers celebrated another successful year of continuous development and distinctive business performance despite the several challenges faced during the year in the financial markets.

During his speech, Mr. Georgiades expressed the mutual respect towards the Founder and Directors of Windsor Brokers and thanked the Company for their long and successful presence in the Republic of Cyprus by stating, “I wish to thank you for making Cyprus your home and for your valuable confidence and support. Your efforts have been instrumental to the viability of the local economy and have greatly contributed to the process of overcoming the economic challenges of the recent years.”

CEO of Windsor Brokers, Johny Abuaitah, thanked the honorable guests for attending the event and announced the outstanding performance results of 2016. He also highlighted that thanks to the Company’s strong presence, long-term experience, noteworthy capital reserves and qualified team, adjusting sails to the winds of change was a smooth process.

During the event, recognition and loyalty awards were offered on behalf of the Directors to eight employees who have been part of the Windsor Brokers team for over 10 years

About Windsor Brokers Ltd.
Windsor Brokers has been a leading provider of financial services for 28 years, catering to both retail and corporate investors from over 80 countries worldwide.

Windsor Brokers Ltd is licensed and regulated by CySec (Cyprus), EEA authorized by the FCA (UK), registered with the ACPR (France) and BaFin (Germany) and complies with EU regulations.
The Company’s capital adequacy ratio (CAR) is currently at 59%, one of the highest in the FX industry worldwide.

Safe Harbor LLP, a top San Francisco Accounting Firm at http://www.safeharborcpa.com/, is proud to announce plans to focus even more strongly on tax preparation services for high income / high net worth individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area. With the booming Bay Area economy, more and more individuals have complex tax needs, either with international or business tax exposure, or both. By clarifying its expertise in these three intersecting areas of international, business, and high income tax preparation services, Safe Harbor LLP is announcing a 'one stop' shop for San Francisco residents seeking savvy tax services.

“Most high net worth individuals have either business or international tax exposure, or both,” explained Chun Wong, Managing Partner at Safe Harbor LLP. “Yet if they go to a 'big box' tax preparation service they often encounter a person who is not trained in these complexities, while if they go to one of the very large CPA or accounting firms in San Francisco, they can pay very high rates and still not receive customized services. By announcing clarification to our services, we are alerting the community that we not only provide tax preparation services for individuals with high incomes but also can deal with the interrelationships of their business and/or international exposures.”

Persons interested in learning more about individual tax preparation can visit http://www.safeharborcpa.com/individual-income-tax/. They can also click up in the menu to business tax preparation services (http://www.safeharborcpa.com/business-tax/) and to international tax services (http://www.safeharborcpa.com/international-tax/), but the best course of action is to call for a consultation. Each individual is unique as are his or her tax preparation needs, and so by engaging in an initial consultation, the firm can figure out if the client is a good fit, and vice-versa.

Interrelated Tax Preparation Needs: Business, Individual, and International

Nowadays, San Francisco sees itself as an international city with strong roots in finance and technology. Many residents have business interests not just in San Francisco or in California but throughout the United States and even in foreign countries. In 2015 and 2016, Safe Harbor LLP saw very strong growth in its services as the number one provider of expatriate tax preparation services in San Francisco, and continued growth in its business and international tax services. Many high income individuals came into the firm complaining that their current CPA or accountant did not understand that one individual could have a business in China, real estate holdings in Germany, stock options in a San Francisco startup and significant income from a job at a Bay Area Fortune 500 company. This type of interrelationship proved difficult for the 'big box' tax services and yet the larger CPA firms were also not set up for individual tax services to high net worth individuals (as opposed to purely corporate tax services). For this reason, Safe Harbor LLP is announcing an important clarification for 2017 that it can look at the 'big picture' for high income individuals in San Francisco and offer them a 'one stop' shop for their tax preparation needs.

About Safe Harbor LLP â€" a Professional CPA Firm in San Francisco

Safe Harbor LLP is a CPA firm that specializes in accounting and tax services for individuals and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and greater California. Safe Harbor CPAs helps both individuals and businesses with tax preparation, IRS audit defense, and audited financial statements. The firm prides itself on friendly yet professional service and utilizes state-of-the-art Internet technology to provide quality customer service.

Safe Harbor CPA
http://www.safeharborcpa.com
Tel. 415.742.4249

Vibration Solution, a top retailer for anti-vibration pads at http://www.vibrationsolution.com/, is proud to announce an information post on how to fix loud treadmills in anticipation of the post-Holiday exercise craze. New Year’s resolutions often include a new healthy exercise routine, yet strong motors and hardwood floors may create too much noise for family members. Vibration pads with ‘Silent Feet’ technology can help.

“Many people can only find time to exercise before or after work. That means early in the morning or late at night when others in the house are sleeping,” explained Rj Yozwiak, Manager of Vibration Solution. “A loud motorized treadmill can create vibration chaos in the home and stop an important health habit. Our vibration pads offer a quiet alternative to the problem.”

To read the post about vibration pads and absorbing the sound of a working treadmill please go to: http://www.vibrationsolution.com/blog/anti-shaking-pads-are-what-you-need-if-theres-a-whole-lotta-shaking-going-on/. Information for anti-vibration solutions and creative uses can be reviewed. The technology uses elastic polymer to help lessen the noise level of items such as washing machines, rolling dishwashers and other home appliances.

Vibration Pads can Help Trim the Impact of Noisy Treadmills

New Year’s resolutions may include a commitment to slimming down with a daily exercise plan and healthy eating habits. For many, exercise has to fit outside of normal business hours. A commitment to the new routine may be solid, but a loud vibrating treadmill at 5:00 a.m. could cause mayhem for the rest of the household. Family members trying to sleep might not appreciate such an early and boisterous exercise routine! Trimming down the clatter of a motorized treadmill could help keep a new exercise plan in place. Vibration pads proven to reduce noisy home appliances may help lessen the sound of busy exercise equipment as well.

The new post is information at the fingertips of those who, on the one hand, want to use their treadmill, and, on the other hand, are respectful of the sleeping and quiet needs of other family members. Anti-vibration pads may be the solution.

About Vibration Solution

Vibration Solution is the source for Sorbothane® ‘Silent Feet’ anti-vibration pads. Sorbothane® uniquely absorbs up to 94.7% of vibrations, and is ideal for use in a variety of home and workplace settings. Vibration pads can help reduce the sound of home appliances and exercise equipment.

http://www.vibrationsolution.com/

Versare Solutions has made updates to its popular Hush Panel DIY Cubicle Partition System to better benefit offices and call centers. New wall-mount bracket options allow cubicle panels to be connected directly to walls, while new grommets enhance connectivity and stability between posts.

Versare’s Hush Panel Configurable Cubicle System is built around a plug-and-play design, where customers choose the amount of panels and posts, then slide together to create any desired arrangement. Businesses looking to create call centers, or working within limited office space, often request privacy panels that mount directly to the wall. Versare’s answer is the new Hush Panel Cubicle Wall-Mount Brackets, which allow each panel to connect directly to the wall. This ensures greater stability while offering a way to save office space. Each bracket screws into the wall, while the cubicle panels and windows slide in, ensuring the same ease of setup. Many traditional cubicle partition installations can take multiple hours or even days and require a third-party installation company, thus leading to Hush Panel Cubicles’ popularity. Versare’s Hush Panel system can be constructed in minutes and mounted and flushed against a wall creating space and increasing cubicle layout options.

In addition to the enhanced mounting capabilities, Versare has added grommets to strengthen the connection between panels without hampering the desirable slide-and-go design. The new grommets, included with each order, strengthen the support between each post, while retaining the same look and design. The grommets slide between each cubicle post, aligning and ensuring straightness for each post.

The majority of cubicle dividers on the market require a variety of tools, pieces, and time to set-up. The complex construction of modern cubicles commonly involves a team for setup. Additionally, a commonality for businesses is to end up unnecessarily expanding and modifying their existing office spaces in order to accommodate their cubicle dividers. Versare’s Hush Panel system was designed as a space-saving alternative that would allow for easy changes due to its plug-and-play nature. Hush Panel cubicle arrangements can be expanded by adding panels and posts accordingly. This relatively simple nature can involve only one person for setup, and no tools are required. For businesses who are dealing with a noisy office environment, Hush Panels can be ordered with acoustical fabric with a 0.65 NRC rating, which helps dampen sound and eliminate echo. The new grommets and wall-mount brackets add to the configurable nature of Versare’s cubicle partitions, allowing effective integration within an always-changing office environment.

About Versare:
Versare Solutions, LLC. is a Minneapolis-based manufacturer and retailer of room dividers, cubicles, privacy screens, sound panels, portable barricades, and portable acoustical products. Versare handles the manufacturing and shipping of all products directly from their MN headquarters, with most products being built in the USA. Co-founders Robert Jantschek & Jeff Ryan initially created the company to offer a more lightweight, durable, and sturdy room divider than what had previously been found on the market. Their selection of products has grown over the years to include a wide array of portable barricades, configurable office cubicle partitions, economical fabric dividers, and outdoor wicker privacy screens.

The insurance industry lost 1,300 jobs in November, a drop of 118 percent from the 7,100 insurance jobs gained in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Economic Situation Report released on Friday, December 2, 2016.

“November’s job losses come after 10 consecutive months of positive gains in the industry,“ said Jay Rollins, owner of InsuranceJobs.com, a leading insurance employment website. “Ironically, alongside February, October’s gains were the highest of the year."

"On the InsuranceJobs.com job board, we’ve seen a slight increase in the number of job postings for almost all insurance sectors, while job openings in claims adjusting held steady with fewer new postings,” said Rollins.

Seasonally adjusted, the industry now sits at 2,617,800 employed insurance professionals, a 0.05 percent decrease over October. Over the past 12 months, the insurance industry has grown by 38,300 jobs, up from the 2,569,900 reported in November 2015. “In a year that has averaged 4,000 jobs a month, this sudden drop could be a corrective response to October’s jump in hiring,” Rollins said.

Unemployment inched up to 1.6 percent for the month, from 1.5 percent in October and 1.7 percent in November 2015.

About InsuranceJobs.com:
Established in 2006, InsuranceJobs.com is the leading insurance jobs website for insurance careers. Currently, the site has over 250,000 registered job seekers and 6,500 registered employers. Users can create a profile, upload their resume, apply to positions and engage in our social communities. Employers can post insurance job opportunities and browse a resume bank for applicants. Thousands of new insurance jobs are listed each month by geographic location and specialty, including actuarial, adjuster, agents, claims, clerical, customer service, health, life, risk management, sales, investigators, insurance underwriters, workers compensation and more.

Myanmar holds ceremonies to mark independence day

NAY PYI TAW, Jan. 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Myanmar held state ceremonies in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon respectively to mark the country's 69th Independence Day which falls on Wednesday.

In Nay Pyi Taw, Vice President U Myint Swe read out the message sent by President U Htin Kyaw, in which the president stressed the importance for all the national brethrens to keep an eye on the 21st Century Panglong Conference at which all can cooperate and find solution to the national reconciliation and union peace.

"Despite regaining independence, it was tragic to see certain national races in some regions could not fully enjoy the fruits of independence as their future was overwhelmed by armed crisis. At present those doubt and crisis were extinct and all the national brethren are trying hard to possess everlasting peace and to build a federal state," U Htin Kyaw said in the message.

He pointed out that the armed struggle lasted for long but could not solve the political crisis, only leaving the country undeveloped for decades.

The president noted that constitution is the foundation of all the laws and plays a vital role in a country. He stressed the need to collaborate to adopt the constitution appropriate to the time and circumstances of current situation in building a democratic federal nation.

Early Wednesday morning in Yangon, a national flag hoisting ceremony with guard of honor to mark the independence day was held for the first time in the new government tenure in the Maha Bandoola Park.

The ceremony was held in front of the City Hall where independence memorial monument lies, with Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein also reading out the president's independence day message.

Myanmar became a British colony in the late 19th century and regained its independence and sovereignty on Jan. 4, 1948. (PNA/Xinhua)

Guterres emphasizes importance of U.N. on 1st working day

NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (PNA/Kyodo) -- U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday painted a realistic picture of the situation he and his staff face as he takes up his new post, and pointed to the importance the world body plays despite its shortcomings in apparent response to critics around the globe during his first staff address.

"I think we should have no illusions, we are facing very challenging times," the former prime minister of Portugal told an audience of U.N. staffers who crowded into the lobby to hear his first remarks after taking up his post on Sunday.

"This is the moment in which we need to assert the value of multilateralism, this is the moment in which we need to recognize that only global solutions can address global problems and the U.N. is the cornerstone of that multilateral approach."

His comments bear special relevance in light of President-elect Donald Trump, who has been critical of the world body and tweeted last month that it was "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time." Trump also warned that things would be different thereafter January 20 when he takes up his presidency.

Guterres noted "the growing divide" between public opinion and governments around the world regarding perceptions about international organizations and how there was "a lot of resistance" and "a lot of skepticism" that has to be overcome about the United Nations.

"We need to have a strong engagement to change and to reform and to improve," he added, noting that it was important to also try to rid the organization of "this straitjacket of bureaucracy."

In his closing remarks, he gave a realistic assessment, saying "there are no miracles and I am sure I am not a miracle maker."

Guterres was chosen for the post after being presented among other candidates publicly in a new process that broke from past tradition.

In October, he was recommended by the Security Council as the candidate to replace Ban Ki Moon and was later approved by the General Assembly.

Next Monday, he is slated to hold a town hall meeting with U.N. staff. (PNA/Kyodo)

Japan to hold evacuation drills over North Korean missile threat in March

TOKYO, Jan. 4 (PNA/Sputnik) -- Japan plans to hold evacuation drills later this year in response to the nuclear threat from North Korea.

Japanese authorities plan to finish the process of selecting participating municipalities in January before likely starting the drills in March, The Nikkei newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The drills are set to be conducted using Japan's satellite-based J-Alert warning system designed to relay emergency messages within 20 seconds via loudspeakers and cellphones, according to the publication.

Residents will be trained to seek underground shelter in case of an incoming North Korean missile, with between 10 and 15 minutes to spare before impact.

Japan is highly wary of North Korea's continued ballistic missile tests, usually conducted in the Sea of Japan, as well as recurring nuclear tests. North Korea has not made direct threats against Japan, however, the country said US military bases in Asia, including those in Japan, could be targeted.

On September 5, Pyongyang launched three ballistic missiles in the direction of the Sea of Japan. Several days later it conducted a successful test of a nuclear warhead, which is believed to be the fifth and largest blast since Pyongyang began pursuing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

In the latest New Year's address to the nation, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country was finalizing preparations for another intercontinental ballistic missile test.

The UN Security Council imposed new sanctions against North Korea in 2016, in response to nuclear test and missile launches.

Japan, South Korea and the United States later introduced additional sanctions against the country. (PNA/Sputnik)

China confiscates over 16-M illegal publications in 2016

BEIJING, Jan. 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Chinese law enforcers in 2016 confiscated over 16 million illegal publications, and shut down or banned over 14,000 websites disseminating "harmful information."

The figures were released by the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications Wednesday.

In 2016 the office "disposed of" more than 4.5 million items of online pornography as well as other harmful information, handling more than 600 criminal cases with over 1,300 people criminally penalized.

The office launched crackdowns on irregularities in cloud computing, online live-streaming and news portals, as well as crackdowns on illegal publications and piracy.

More than 4.6 million pirated publications and over 900,000 copies of illegal newspapers or journals were confiscated in the fight against piracy. (PNA/Xinhua)

Indonesia suspends military cooperation with Australia

JAKARTA, Jan. 4 (PNA/Kyodo) -- The Indonesian military has suspended all cooperation with Australia due to "technical matters", a military spokesman said Wednesday, following a local media report that some materials insulting Indonesia were found at an Australian military base.

"We suspended (military and defense) cooperation with Australia... for technical matters," Indonesian Defense Force spokesman Maj. Gen. Wuryanto said.

"It is only temporary. Once the technical matters are fixed, the cooperation will resume," he added. But the spokesman refused to provide details on what kind of "technical matters" were at issue. (PNA/Kyodo)

Syrian troops hold operations against terrorists in Homs governorate

BEIRUT, Jan. 4 (PNA/TASS) -- Units of the Syrian Armed Forces and volunteer guards on Tuesday attacked the strongholds of terrorist groupings to the north of the city of Homs, 165 km away from Damascus, Al Watan newspaper said in a report at its homepage.

Artillery of the government forces delivered strikes at the sites in the populated localities of Al Mahatta and where the terrorists affiliated with Jabhat Fater al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) had amassed their manpower.

Al Watan said eight al-Nusra field commanders had been eliminated among other terrorists.

Combat clashes with terrorist units unembraced by the current ceasefire agreements took place in the Houla area to the northwest of Homs. The Syrian Army artillery delivered fire at the positions al-Nusra and its allies held in Eth-Teybe, Kafr Laha, Taldou, Qarmus, and Maryamin.

The enemy’s ranks suffered losses in killed and wounded and its strongholds and military vehicles were destroyed, too.

Syrian Air Force attacked the Islamic State’s positions on the approaches to the ancient city of Palmyra, which is located some 240 km away from Damascus. An airstrike was made at the militants’ logistics base in al Suhna oasis in the internal area of the Syrian Desert.

Reports also spoke about clashes between government forces and militants in the vicinity of the T-4 airbase and in Jubb al Jarrah area to the west of Palmyra. Sources did not cite any data on the losses suffered by the sides. (PNA/TASS)

Singapore president to visit Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam will pay a state visit to Cambodia on Jan. 8-11, where he will witness a signing ceremony of two documents, the Cambodian foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

During his stay, Tan would be received in separate royal audiences by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath at the Royal Palace, the ministry said in a statement.

The Singaporean president will hold talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen before the signing ceremony of two documents, it said.

The documents are a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in technical and vocational training and an MoU on health cooperation.

Tan is also scheduled to visit the famed Angkor archaeological park in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province. (PNA/Xinhua)

Identity of Istanbul nightclub attacker established

MOSCOW, Jan. 4 (PNA/TASS) -- The identity of the person who carried out a terrorist attack at Reina nightclub in Istanbul during the New Year’s celebrations has been established, Reuters news agency cited Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying on Wednesday.

It was reported earlier that the Turkish police had detained another five persons in Izmir on suspicion of their complicity in the terror attack on Reina nightclub in Istanbul.

At least 39 people, including 16 foreign nationals, were killed in the attack. A Russian woman is among the victims.

The Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) on Monday claimed responsibility for the nightclub massacre.

Among those killed are also the citizens of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Libya and Israel. (PNA/TASS)

S. Korea vows to maintain pressure, sanctions on N. Korea in 2017

SEOUL, Jan. 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- South Korea vowed Wednesday to maintain its hardline policy of pressure and sanctions on North Korea, while making diplomatic efforts to isolate the latter further.

Seoul's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said in its annual plan report to Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is serving as acting president, that its hardline policy will be maintained in 2017 to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and cause a right change in the northern neighbor.

The foreign ministry said in its separate report that it will put diplomatic pressures on North Korea from all sides by cutting off the source of funds, deepening a diplomatic isolation further and cooperating with major countries to implement UN Security Counsil resolutions.

Hwang said in the reporting session of security and foreign affairs that this year can be an inflection point for North Korea's nuclear issue, noting that the issue is the biggest challenge to security and the biggest obstacle to peace and reunification of the two Koreas.

Despite all-out efforts to resolve the issue under current and previous governments, Hwang said, Pyongyang just continued nuclear detonations in response.

The reports indicated the government's adherence to the stance on North Korea's nuclear issue, tainted by intensive nuclear tests by Pyongyang in the past decade under conservative presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

The two South Korean leaders sticked to the "strategic patience," offering a conditional dialogue with Pyongyang. During the decade-long deadlock, Pyongyang's nuclear and missile capabilities advanced at a faster speed.

North Korea detonated its second and third atomic devices in May 2009 and February 2013 respectively under the Lee Myung-bak administration. The fourth and fifth nuclear tests were carried out in January and September 2016 each under the impeached president.

Pyongyang, the reports forecast, will continue to pursue its ambition for a nuclear state position, while seeking to alter the current phase of anti-North Korea sanctions.

Top North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in his new year address that his country entered a final stage in preparations for the test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic rocket in near future.

North Korea's 2016 moves entailed tougher-than-ever sanctions from the international community, but some South Korean experts predicted additional nuclear and missile tests this year to increase its bargaining power with new governments both in the United States and South Korea.

The Trump administration is set to be launched later this month, while an early presidential election is forecast to be held in South Korea, possibly in the first half given that President Park was impeached on Dec. 9.

Expectations are running high in South Korea for the transfer of presidential power from the hawkish conservative bloc to the liberal camp, which usually argues for rapprochement approach to Pyongyang.

Key presidential contenders of the biggest opposition Minjoo Party have called for the resumption of long-stalled talks with North Korea to help defuse tensions in northeast Asia. (PNA/Xinhua)
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Cambodia sends 7th batch of troops to Lebanon for peacekeeping mission

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Cambodia sent the seventh batch of 184 peacekeepers to Lebanon on Wednesday to replace the sixth group, whose one-year United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country has come to an end.

The military engineering group, including 16 females, would work on landmine clearance and construction of roads, bridges, shelters and barracks, said Gen. Pol Saroeun, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

"This event once again reflects Cambodia's active contribution to maintaining peace, security and stability in the world," he said during the departure ceremony at the Phnom Penh Military Airbase.

He advised the peacekeepers to strictly respect Lebanon's independence and sovereignty and to work hard in order to achieve the humanitarian mission.

Alexandre Huynh, coordinator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to Cambodia, hailed Cambodia for supporting the UN peacekeeping operations, saying that the country's contribution was a role model to the world.

"Your dedication to helping others, sharing your skills with other countries that are suffering from conflict, will be precious and a source of hope and inspiration to many," he said.

He said since 2006, the Southeast Asian country has provided a total of 4,180 troops, including 151 females, to participate in the UN peacekeeping operations in Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Lebanon, Mali, Syria and Cyprus. (PNA/Xinhua)

Mexico laments cancellation of Ford investment

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The Mexican government lamented Tuesday the decision by American carmaker Ford to cancel its plan to build a plant in the state of San Luis Potosi, worth USD1.6 billion.

The carmaker had said it would reimburse "any expenses made by the state government to facilitate this investment," the Ministry of Economy said in a statement.

Ford announced the cancellation of its investment in San Luis Potosi, which would have generated 2,800 jobs. It has decided instead to expand its plant and hire 700 new people in Flat Rock, Michigan, in the United States.

The Mexican government also said the growth of Ford in Mexico and the jobs it had created in the country "had contributed to maintaining manufacturing jobs in the United States, which otherwise would have disappeared due to Asian competition."

"The government reiterates its commitment to make Mexico a more competitive country for national and foreign investment," read the statement.

Ford's reversal came on the same day when US President-elect Donald Trump threatened on Twitter to slap taxes on General Motors (GM) for allegedly importing the Chevrolet Cruze into the United States from Mexico free of taxes.

GM responded by saying most of its Cruze cars are made in Ohio and only a small number of the cars of the hatchback version are imported from Mexico. (PNA/Xinhua)

Tunisia confirms return of 800 terrorists in 5 years: minister

TUNIS, Jan 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Tunisian Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub said Tuesday that 800 terrorists, including 30 women, have returned to the country from the conflict zones, from 2012 to 2016.

These terrorists "spread over 24 Tunisian provinces...and the majority of them reside in the capital Tunis...about 198 of them are in prison and more than 100 are under house arrest," Majdoub said in the Tunisian daily newspaper "Al Maghreb."

The minister added that the terrorists are between the ages of 25 and 50.

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi announced on the occasion of the new year that the Interior Ministry has a nominative list of Tunisians belonging to terrorist organizations around the world.

Majdoub said the list includes about 2,929 terrorists. "Half of these terrorists are in Syria, 500 are in Libya and less than 150 in Iraq."

"What worries us today is our border with Libya because we have difficulties to register those who cross these borders illegally," he added.

Some Tunisians believe that their country is not ready to receive those terrorists due to the fragile security situation in the country and the overcrowded prisons. (PNA/Xinhua)

Obama offers condolences for victims in recent attacks in Turkey

WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- US President Barack Obama on Tuesday expressed his condolences for the victims in recent attacks in Turkey in a telephone call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the White House said.

The extremist group Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the New Year attack against a nightclub in Istanbul that killed at least 39 people. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a militant group linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, has claimed responsibility for the Dec. 17 attack against off-duty Turkish security personnel in Kayseri.

Obama and Erdogan agreed that Turkey and the United States must continue to stand united in order to defeat terrorism, the White House said in a statement.

Obama welcomed Turkey's ongoing efforts to work with regional actors to facilitate a nationwide cease-fire in Syria and a return to political negotiations between the Syrian government and the opposition.

Turkey and Russia have agreed on a cease-fire plan for all of Syria that aims to end nearly six years of war and lead to peace talks between the government and the rebels.

In the telephone talk, Obama and Erdogan noted recent progress in the US-led international coalition's campaign against IS in Iraq and Syria, and agreed on the need to continue and deepen coordination between the United States and Turkey, according to the statement.

The two leaders also discussed the Cyprus issue and expressed hope that upcoming diplomatic engagements will result in an agreement to reunify the island as a bizonal and bicommunal federation. (PNA/Xinhua)
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'Big One' Coming? Small quakes pepper Southern California

MOSCOW, Jan 4 (PNA/Sputnik) -- Concerns that a violent earthquake will shatter Southern California were revived on New Year’s Eve after some 250 small earthquakes rattled a wide area southeast of Los Angeles.

The estimated 250 individual earthquakes over the weekend were small, the strongest clocking in at 3.9 magnitude, but the fact that they all occurred approximately 30 miles from the 800-mile San Andreas fault is concerning, according to scientists.

There were hundreds of small quakes recorded, prior to the new year, in an area known as "the Brawley Seismic Zone," which connects the San Andreas and Imperial faults, both considered by seismologists of being capable of triggering ruinous temblors.

One such earthquake struck the northern end of the San Andreas fault in 1906, causing the deaths of about 3000 people and triggering a fire that leveled 80 percent of San Francisco. Considering historical precedent and the nature of the region's seismology, a large earthquake is, at the least, likely.

"There's always reason to be concerned for a bigger earthquake," Egill Hauksson, a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena who has been monitoring events, told the Times.

Most experts agree that another catastrophic event of a similar scale is inevitable and can hit the area at any time. When it strikes, it could lay waste to some 3.5 million homes, as estimated by real-estate analytics firm CoreLogic.

"We think Southern California is locked and loaded, that the stresses have really built up, and when things start unleashing, they could unleash for years," Ned Field, a seismologist with the US Geological Survey, told Smithsonian magazine in 2015. (PNA/Sputnik)
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New UN Secretary General calls on staff not to expect miracles but work as a team

MOSCOW, Jan. 4 (PNA/Sputnik) -- New United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on his staff to work as a team to ensure reforms and overcome divisions in the organization.

Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, who also led the UN refugee agency, took office as UN secretary general earlier on Sunday.

"I know that the way this process of election has been developed, has generated a lot of expectations. I think it is useful to say that there are no miracles, and I am sure I am not a miracle-maker. And the only way for us to be able to achieve our goals is to really work together as a team," Guterres said in his address to the UN staff on Tuesday.

He added that it is necessary to reform the UN development system and "to try to get rid of this straightjacket of bureaucracy".

He also urged them to overcome the divides that still exist in the organization.

Guterres succeeded Ban Ki-moon, whose term as UN chief expired midnight of December 31. (PNA/Sputnik)

4 policemen among 10 injured in NW Pakistan blast

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- At least 10 people including four cops were injured when a bomb went off near a police vehicle in Pakistan's northwest Dera Ismail Khan district on Wednesday, local Urdu media reported.

ARY News said the police vehicle was on its routine patrolling when it was targeted by a roadside bomb at Banu Road of Dera Ismail Khan district in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The report added that some unknown militants detonated the roadside bomb with a remote controlled device and managed to flee.

The blast happened near a bus station and the injured people also included the passengers who were waiting for their buses at the station.

All the injured were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Dera Ismail Khan.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. (PNA/Xinhua)

4 Chinese ships enter Japanese waters around Senkakus

NAHA, Japan, Jan. 4 (PNA/Kyodo) -- Four Chinese coast guard ships entered Japanese waters around the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Wednesday, the Japan Coast Guard said.

The vessels entered the territorial waters shortly after 10 a.m. in the first such incident this year. China Coast Guard ships last entered the waters around the group of uninhabited islets on Dec. 26.

A Japanese coast guard ship demanded that the vessels leave the waters. Beijing claims the Japanese-administered islands, called Diaoyu in China. (PNA/Kyodo)

Japan's traffic deaths fall below 4,000 for 1st time in 67 years

TOKYO, Jan. 4 (PNA/Kyodo) -- Japan's traffic death toll fell below 4,000 last year for the first time in 67 years, due partly to improved vehicle safety, the National Police Agency said Wednesday.

In 2016, the number of people who died in traffic accidents in the country dropped by 213, or 5.2 percent, from a year earlier to 3,904. It was last below 4,000 in 1949 and the third lowest since 1948, the first year for which comparable data became available.

The 2016 figure was less than a quarter of the record 16,765 logged in 1970, according to the agency. (PNA/Kyodo)

27 million Indonesians live in poverty

JAKARTA, Jan. 4 (PNA/ANTARA News) -- The number of Indonesians living in poverty fell to 27.76 million, or 10.7 percent of the population, by September from March last year, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has said.

"The figure fell 0.25 percent compared to 28.01 million, or 10.86 percent of the total population, as of March 2016," BPS Chief Suhariyanto said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

The number of people living in poverty in urban areas fell from 7.79 percent of the total population as of March last year to 7.73 percent as of September.

Likewise, the number of people living in poverty in rural areas fell to 13.96 percent of the total population as of September from 14.11 percent as of March.

The number of people living in poverty in rural areas fell 0.39 million to 17.28 million as of September from 17.67 million as of March.

The BPS noted that food commodities played a bigger role than non-food commodities, including housing, clothes, education and healthcare, in contributing to the fall in poverty.

In September, food commodities contributed 73.19 percent to poverty line compared to 73.50 percent in March.

"Among food commodities that contributed a lot to poverty in rural areas are rice, cigarette, beef, egg, sugar, instant noodle, shallot and tempeh," he said.

Beef was one of the food commodities contributing to poverty because September 2016 coincided with Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice), he said.

The non-food commodities that contributed to the decline in poverty were housing, electricity bill, gasoline and education fees. (PNA/Antara)

Rear-end collision kills 1, injures 9 in Ho Chi Minh City

HO CHI MINH CITY, Jan 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- A container truck on Wednesday morning crashed into a median strip on an expressway in Vietnam's southern Dong Nai province, and then got hit by a coach, killing one person and injuring nine others, the provincial police said.

A 52-seat coach registered in central Binh Dinh province hit the truck's rear and then overturned, injuring 10 people in the coach. Of the five severely injured, one died in a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

Unable to avoid the overturned coach, another coach, also registered in Binh Dinh, was stuck at the accident site.

The expressway, running through Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City, allows a speed of 80-120 km per hour. Some 45,000 vehicles run on the expressway each day.

A total of 21,589 traffic accidents occurred in Vietnam last year, killing 8,685 people, severely injuring 6,180 and slightly hurting 13,100 others, said the country's traffic police department. (PNA/Xinhua)

Online stalking on social media now illegal in Japan

TOKYO, Jan 3 (PNA/Kyodo) -- A revised anti-stalking law took effect in Japan on Tuesday to crack down on online stalking via social networking services, which counselors warn is enmeshing a growing number of teenagers.

Acts deemed illegal under the law involve sending messages repeatedly through SNS even though the recipient does not want to receive them and relentlessly leaving comments on someone's blog.

Concerning stalking in general, the amended law allows public prosecutors to indict a suspect even if the person being stalked stops short of filing a criminal complaint for fear of retaliation and also extends the maximum term of imprisonment from six months to one year. (PNA/Kyodo)

Turkish army kills 22 Daesh militants, destroys 111 targets in Syria

MOSCOW, Jan. 3 (PNA/Sputnik) -- The Turkish Armed Forces have eliminated 22 Daesh militants over the past 24 hours as part of the Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria, local media reported, citing a Turkish military source.

All 22 militants have been killed in the ground clashes, the Anadolu news agency reported Monday, adding that 111 Daesh targets were destroyed.

The militants have been eliminated as the part of the offensive to liberate the Daesh-held city of al-Bab.

On August 24, the Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield against militants of Daesh, which is outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Turkish forces, with assistance from Syrian opposition fighters, occupied the city of Jarabulus in northern Syria and are currently conducting its offensive on al-Bab. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the aim of the operation is to clear the region of terrorists and make it a safety zone for refugees.

The operation has been widely criticized both by the Syrian Kurds and Damascus, who have accused Ankara of violating Syria's territorial integrity. (PNA/Sputnik)

Wildfires in Chilean Valparaiso burn 100 houses, injure 19 people -- reports

MOSCOW, Jan. 3 (PNA/Sputnik) -- At least 100 houses have been destroyed by the wildfires in the city of Valparaiso, Chile on Tuesday with 19 people suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, local media reported.

A total of 49 firefighting vehicles and 10 planes are participating in the firefighting operation, Caracol TV reported.

High temperature and strong winds have fanned the fire.

No casualties have been reported so far.

Earlier in the day, Chilean Interior Ministry declared the red threat level due to the wildfires and evacuated some 200 locals. (PNA/Sputnik)

Kyrgyz national suspected of Istanbul night club attack -- agency

MOSCOW, Jan. 4 (PNA/TASS) -- A 28-year old Kyrgyz national is suspected of the New Year eve’s terrorist attack at Reina night club in Istanbul, EFE news agency reported on Tuesday.

Lakhe Mashrapov arrived in Turkey from Syria with his wife and two sons in November 2016, the agency said.

Mashrapov has denied any involvement in the shooting, Kyrgyzstan’s news website Turmush reported on Tuesday.

"I was in Kyrgyzstan on December 31 when the terrorist attack was committed," Mashrapov said in an interview with Turmush. "I have nothing to do with the attack in Turkey. I travel to Istanbul for business since 2011."

At least 39 people, including 16 foreign nationals, were killed in the attack. A Russian woman is among the victims.

The Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) on Monday claimed responsibility for the night club shooting.

Among those killed are also th

M-6.9 quake hits Fiji, tsunami warning issued

SYDNEY, Jan 4 (PNA/Kyodo) -- An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.9 struck Wednesday off the coast of Fiji in the Pacific, the US Geological Survey said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning following the 10:52 a.m. quake. (PNA/Kyodo)

Venezuela continues search for missing military helicopter with 13 on board

CARACAS, Jan. 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez announced Tuesday the search efforts are continuing for the missing military helicopter, which disappeared last week while flying over the country's southern Amazonas state.

During a telephone interview with the state-owned Venezolana de Televisión, Padrino Lopez said the search continued "with all impetus...with all the means available, by river, land and air, so we can have news of the crew as quickly as possible."

When the helicopter disappeared on Dec. 30 while flying from Puerto Ayacucho to La Esmeralda, those on board included four civilians, five military personnel and four crew members.

"This morning, the commander of the Strategic Region of Guayana informed me that he is leading the search operation. They took off but had to land again as weather conditions were completely unsuitable," said Padrino Lopez.

On Dec. 30, the helicopter left Puerto Ayacucho at 7:45 a.m. and was expected to reach La Esmeralda at 9:45, but contact was lost around 8:10 a.m. (PNA/Xinhua)

Fire guts hundreds of shops at Dhaka's market

DHAKA, Jan. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- An early morning fire razed hundreds of shops in a market located at Bangladesh's capital diplomatic enclave Gulshan on Tuesday, destroying goods and property, said a firefighter.

The firefighter who did not like to be named said the fire, which originated at around 2:30 a.m. local time, raged on till 8:30 a.m. local time.

He said 21 units of firefighters have been trying to douse the fire and a portion of the two-storey Gulshan1 DCCI market collapsed.

No casualties have so far been reported.

The exact cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. (PNA/Xinhua)

Syrian rebels suspend peace talks with government

DAMASCUS, Jan 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Several rebel groups announced late Monday that they were freezing talks on planned peace negotiations with the Syrian government, citing what it called "major violations" by the government forces to an ongoing cease-fire.

The rebels said in a joint statement that they were freezing talks on the peace negotiations that were planned to take place soon in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.

They claimed it was a response to the "major violations" by the government forces to the ceasefire that was reached in an agreement under the shepherd of Russia and Turkey, and went into force four days ago.

"Due to the worsening situation and the continuation of the violations, the (rebel) factions declare freezing any talks related to the Astana negotiations...until the full implementation of the ceasefire deal," the rebel groups said.

The statement cited what the rebels called repeated violations by the government forces, including the escalation of military offensives on the rebel-held town of Wadi Barada in northwestern Damascus, and Rastan area in the central province of Homs.

The government refused to acknowledge its attacks as breaches to the ceasefire, saying it's fighting the Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) group, both excluded from the ceasefire as both have been designated as terrorist organizations by the UN.

Moreover, for the government forces, Wadi Barada is controlled by the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, previously known as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, which has already been excluded from the truce.

The rebels in Wadi Barada has cut off the main water supply line into Damascus since Dec. 22, leaving the government with few options to restore the water source in that area, which feeds the capital's over 5 million inhabitants.

The Russian-Turkish sponsored ceasefire went into force at midnight on Friday, with opposition activists saying it was still holding on Monday, despite the "breaches."

The recent ceasefire is the third in Syria after two previous failing ones. The first was reached last February, which lasted for three months before collapsing, and the second one was established in September, which was observed for only a week. (PNA/Xinhua)

Child killed, 7 injured in bomb explosion in Algeria

ALGIERS, Jan. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- An eight-year-old child was killed on Monday when an abandoned homemade bomb exploded in the locality of Mouzaia, in the province of Blida, 50 km southwest of Algiers, local media reported.

The explosion injured seven other children aged between seven and 10, who were rushed to Frantz Fanon Hospital to get medical treatment, according to local Ennahar TV.

Security authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of this incident.

The bomb was likely abandoned by terrorist groups, given that the mountains and woods of the province of Blida used to be stronghold for terrorists in the 1990's, the report said. (PNA/Xinhua)

China issues first red alert for fog

BEIJING, Jan. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Tuesday issued a red alert for fog in a number of northern and eastern regions, the first ever national red alert for fog.

From Tuesday to Wednesday, thick fog in parts of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as well as provinces of Henan, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu will reduce visibility to less than 500 meters, the National Meteorological Center said.

In extreme cases visibility may fall below 50 meters in those regions, it added.

The center said drivers in affected regions should slow down to safe speeds, while airports, freeways and ports should take safety necessary measures.

The center also renewed an orange alert for smog in the same period in northern, eastern and central China, with smog continuing to blanket the regions since Friday.

China has a four-tier color-coded warning system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue. (PNA/Xinhua)

Road accidents kill 1,717 people in Cambodia last year

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Road traffic crashes claimed 1,717 lives in Cambodia in 2016, down 14 percent year-on-year, according to a National Road Safety Committee report on Tuesday.

Among the dead, 1,276 people, or 74 percent, were motorcyclists, said the report.

Beside the fatalities, the accidents injured 6,607 others last year, down 8 percent year-on-year, it said.

According to the report, some 3,700 cases of road crashes were recorded last year, also down 11 percent year-on-year.

"The main causes of the accidents were overspeeding, 44 percent; drunken driving, 12 percent and neglect overtaking, 12 percent," it said.

Road crashes are a leading cause of death in the Southeast Asian country. The government estimated that road accidents cost the nation more than USD300 million a year. (PNA/Xinhua)

Japan mulls more stringent genetically modified food labeling

TOKYO, Jan. 3 (PNA/Kyodo) -- Japan is considering expanding the scope of mandatory labeling of ingredients containing genetically modified crops from the current 33 food items, according to Consumer Affairs Agency sources.

The move is aimed at giving consumers a greater sense of security about the food they buy and eat amid growing imports of genetically modified crops and food products containing them.

In 2015, Japan imported 11.8 million tons of corn and 2.33 million tons of soy from the United States, and over 90 percent of them were believed to be genetically modified, according to the agriculture ministry. (PNA/Kyodo)

Some 650 cars burned around France on New Year’s eve - Interior Ministry

PARIS, Jan 2 (PNA/Itar-TASS) -- New Year celebrations in France were again marred by a series of car burnings in which over 650 vehicles were set ablaze, the country’s interior ministry said late Sunday.

"The number of burned cars shows that this phenomenon, as unacceptable as it is, continues to exist. A total of 650 cars were set ablaze while last year there were 602 such cases," the ministry said in a statement.

However, the ministry reported an overall trend of decline in the car burnings, which have effectively become an annual event in French suburbs since the 2005 riots. "In the past five years, the number of torched vehicles dropped by 20 percent, the ministry said.

Security has been tough on New Year’s eve around France, with more than 100,000 police officers, firemen and civilian activists on duty to prevent major disturbances.

"No major incidents were reported on the Saint Sylvestre night (New Year’s eve)," the statement reads, adding that "sporadic occasions of tensions or public disorders" still took place.

"A total of 454 people were detained by police officers and gendarmes during the night, 301 of them were placed in custody," the interior ministry said. (PNA/Itar-TASS)

Finland condemns New Year attack in Istanbul

HELSINKI, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Finnish President Sauli Niinisto issued a statement on Sunday, strongly condemning the attack in Istanbul, Turkey.

"The attack targeting people who were celebrating the New Year is a cruel and horrifying start to the year of 2017," said Niinisto in the statement.

He said Finland strongly condemns terrorism.

The president also offered his condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the death of the people in Istanbul.

A lone gunman sprayed bullets at the people celebrating new year at Istanbul's famous Reina nightclub late Saturday after killing a police officer. At least 39 people were confirmed dead, including both Turkish and foreign nationals. (PNA/Xinhua)

Xi extends condolences to Philippine president over typhoon

BEIJING, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday extended condolences to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over casualties and damage caused by Typhoon Nock-ten.

In a message, Xi sent condolences to the Philippine president, and through him, to the people affected by the disaster.

China and the Philippines are friendly neighbors, and the Chinese government and people are deeply worried about the Philippine people who have been hit and become homeless in the disaster, Xi said, adding China is ready to provide emergency assistance.

Xi expressed the belief that the Philippine people, under the leadership of Duterte and his government, will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes.

Nock-ten, which battered the northern part of the Philippines on Christmas Day, has left six people dead and 19 others missing, and incurred damage worth USD80 million. (PNA/Xinhua)

UN chief condemns terrorist attack in Istanbul

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday condemned the "despicable terrorist attack" at a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey.

According to a statement of the spokesman for the secretary-general, Guterres extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

He also expressed his solidarity with the government and people of Turkey and of those countries whose nationals were impacted.

Guterres expressed the hope that the organizers and perpetrators of this "heinous act" would be identified and brought to justice swiftly, says the statement.

A gunman stormed into Reina nightclub early Sunday morning and shot at hundreds of people gathering there for New Year celebrations, leaving at least 39 killed and over 60 others injured.(PNA/Xinhua)

India successfully test-fires surface-to-surface missile

NEW DELHI, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- India test-fired an Agni-IV missile on Monday from a road-mobile launcher off Abdul Kalam wheeler Island in its eastern sate of Odisha, state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) said.

The home-grown long-range intercontinental nuclear capable ballistic missile was test fired at 11:50 a.m. local time (0620 GMT).

The broadcaster quoting defense sources said Agni-IV test was aimed at revalidating new technologies incorporated in Agni-IV system and checking the readiness of India's armed forces to launch the missile on its own.

"Agni-IV is a two-stage, surface-to-surface missile, 20-meter-long and weighs 17 tonnes. It can carry a one-tonne nuclear warhead over a distance of 4,000 kilometer," the broadcaster said.

Agni-IV has been designed and developed by India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Indian Defense officials say the missile has many cutting-edge technologies which can meet global standards.

Monday's test is the sixth test of the missile and second user associate launch from the wheeler Island.

Last week India successfully launched its longest range Agni-V missile. (PNA/Xinhua)

Indians killed in Istanbul nightclub terror attack -- FM

NEW DELHI, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- India on Sunday said that two of its nationals were among 39 people killed in the Istanbul nightclub terror attack.

"I have a bad news from Turkey. We have lost two Indian nationals in the Istanbul attack. Indian Ambassador is on way to Istanbul," Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

The attack happened at Reina nightclub, one of the city's most exclusive party spots, early Sunday morning when some 700 revellers were marking the New Year.

A man dressed as Santa Claus reportedly entered the club around 1:15 a.m. local time and started firing at random, killing 39 people, including 15 foreign nationals, and injuring more than 65 others.

Police in Turkey have launched a manhunt to track down the attacker who had left the gun at the nightclub before fleeing the spot. (PNA/Xinhua)

21 Taliban militants killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan

KABUL, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- A total of 21 Taliban militants were killed as aircraft of government forces pounded Taliban positions in the eastern Logar province on Sunday, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

"Acting upon confirmed intelligence reports, Air Forces stormed a hideout of armed Taliban in Charkh district of Logar province yesterday evening, killing 21 armed Taliban and destroying their weapons and ammunition," the statement said.

Two Taliban group commanders were also among those killed in the strikes, it added.

Taliban militants who hold control in parts of the relatively troubled province have not confirmed the casualties. (PNA/Xinhua)

Ban Ki-moon calls for parliamentary reform in S. Korea

MOSCOW, Jan 3 (PNA/Sputnik) -- Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he supports proposed changes to South Korea's parliamentary election system that would make it more open to smaller parties, an indication that he may intend to join such a party for his anticipated presidential run.

Ban, who has not officially announced his candidacy, said in a recent meeting with colleagues that he supported reforms proposed by the leader of the country's People's Party. The reforms would switch South Korea's current parliamentary election system from a single-seat constituency to a multiple-seat system, Yonhap reports, citing a source at the meeting.

The shift would weaken the hold of major parties on South Korea's National Assembly and give smaller parties more opportunities to be seated and heard.

Ban, who served as South Korea's foreign minister a decade ago but otherwise has relatively little domestic political experience, is nonetheless being courted by several major political groups, according to Yonhap. Among them are the New Conservative Party for Reform, a group that splintered off from the ruling Saenuri Party following the impeachment of current South Korean President Park Geun-hye, as well as members of the opposition coalition.

Ban and his anticipated main rival, Moon Jae-in, former chair of the opposition Democratic Party, are seen as probable frontrunners in the next election. Early polls showed Ban ahead, but the most recent put Moon slightly in front.

Park was impeached in December following a months-long influence-peddling scandal centered on her friend Choi Soon-sil. Choi and members of the president's administration have been arrested, with many other still under investigation.

South Korea's Constitutional Court has six months to decide if the parliament's impeachment of Park was valid. If it is recognized as valid, presidential elections are to be called within two months.

Ban was recently hit with bribery allegations, which he denied. (PNA/Sputnik)
BNB/SSC

Australia battling to contain prawn disease outbreak

SYDNEY, Jan. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Australia is battling to contain a biosecurity threat in farmed prawns after a fifth farm was tested positive for White Spot Disease in the Logan River.

The Logan River, just south of Brisbane in Queensland state has been closed to all commercial and recreational take of shellfish since early December while biosecurity authorities respond to the diseases outbreak after tests confirmed presence in local prawn farms.

Authorities however have confirmed the disease is present in a fifth prawn farm, 5 km downriver from another four that have been destocked following positive test results, local media reported Tuesday.

"At this stage it is not yet clear how the virus has come to be present on this premises," Biosecurity Queensland said in a statement.

"There are three other aquaculture premises in the immediate vicinity, but one of these currently has no prawn stock."

Infected crustaceans do not pose a health risk to humans, however the disease does cause high mortality rates in farmed and wild stocks. Farmed prawn production typically drops to 40 percent of normal levels for two years, before recovering to approximately 70 percent over the long term.

Testing is continuing in the surrounding waterways to ascertain the spread of the disease while investigating its source. The disease can persist and retain infectivity in the water column for four to seven days.

Australia was previously considered free of the virus which has decimated farmed prawn stocks in Asia. Local officials contend the disease has not established itself in wild crustacean populations. (PNA/Xinhua)

At least 9 killed in Kazakhstan building collapse

ASTANA, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- At least nine people, including three children, were killed when an apartment building collapsed in central Kazakhstan late Sunday.

Six people, including two children, were rescued from under the rubble of the building located in Shahan town of Karaganda region, according to the Kazakh emergencies committee.

The death toll may rise as a search and rescue operation is under way, the committee said. The remaining residents of the building have been evacuated.

The collapse was caused by an explosion of the heating system, Karaganda Governor Nurmukhambet Abdibekov said, adding that authorities have set up a committee to probe the accident and will provide financial assistance to families of the dead. (PNA/Xinhua)

Death toll in prison riot in Brazil reportedly rises to 60

MOSCOW, Jan. 3 (PNA/Sputnik) -- The number of inmates killed as a result of a prison riot in the Brazilian state of Amazonas increased to 60, local media reported Monday.

The incident was one of the bloodiest disasters in the country’s penitentiary system, the Globo television channel said, citing Sergio Fontes, head of security of the state of Amazonas.

The riot began late on Sunday and was suppressed only at 8:40 a.m. local time (12:40 GMT), according to the television channel.

Police seized four handguns, a shotgun and improvised weapons from prisoners, the news channel said.

Earlier in the day, local media reported that at least 50 prisoners were killed in the riot, which was sparked by the clashes between two opposing gangs in the prison of the city of Manaus. (PNA/Sputnik)

Trump says he won't allow N. Korean missiles to reach US soil

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (PNA/Sputnik) -- US President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would not allow North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles to reach the United States.

The announcement came after North Korean leader Kim Jon Un said on Sunday that the country was finalizing preparations for testing an intercontinental ballistic missile.

"North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the US. It won't happen!" Trump posted in his official Twitter account. ​

In the next tweet, the president-elect blamed China in not helping the United States "with North Korea."

​On Sept. 5, Pyongyang launched three ballistic missiles in the direction of the Sea of Japan. Several days later it conducted a successful test of a nuclear warhead, which is believed to be the fifth and largest blast since Pyongyang began pursuing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The UN Security Council imposed new sanctions against the North Korea in 2016 in response to nuclear test and missile launches. (PNA/Sputnik)

Suicide bombers attack 2 police stations in Iraq's Samarra

TIKRIT, Iraq, Jan. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Four suicide bombers on Monday attacked two police stations in the city of Samarra in Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, leaving at least two police officers killed, a provincial security source told Xinhua.

The attacks occurred in the evening when two suicide bombers stormed the al-Imam police station and two others attacked the al-Mutawakil police station, both located in al-Mu'tasim neighborhood in the city of Samarra, some 120 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the source from Salahudin provincial police said on condition of anonymity.

After heavy fire exchange and massive explosions, the police forces backed by helicopter gunships managed to retake control of the two police stations after killing the four attackers, the source said.

The is no immediate report about the exact casualties, but initial reports said that two police officers were killed by the attacks, the source added.

Authorities of the city immediately imposed curfew and blocked the entrances of the city, as reinforcement troops arrived to deploy in the main streets and around the nearby holy Shiite shrine of Imam Hassan al-Askari in central Samarra.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is responsible for such suicide bombings targeting Iraqi security forces as well as crowded areas, including markets, cafes and mosques across the country.

The attacks came as the Iraqi security forces backed by anti-IS international coalition are carrying out a major offensive to drive out the IS militants from its last major stronghold in and around Mosul.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the US, which invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003. (PNA/Xinhua)

IS claims responsibility for Istanbul nightclub attack

ISTANBUL, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) on Monday claimed responsibility for an attack early Sunday that killed 39 and injured 69 others in an Istanbul nightclub, Turkish media reported.

Hurriyet daily news said the IS made the claim in a statement posted on social media.

A gunman stormed Reina nightclub early Sunday and shot at hundreds of people gathering there for New Year celebrations, leaving at least 39 dead and over 60 others injured. Many of the victims were foreign nationals.

Police have launched a manhunt for the gunman, who remains on the run after fleeing the nightclub in chaos.(PNA/Xinhua)

At least 2 killed in twin blasts near Somalia's AU base

MOGADISHU, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and several others injured in twin blasts by extremist group Al-Shabaab near the base of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and a luxury hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Monday.

Mohamed Jama, a police officer at the scene, told Xinhua the first explosion went off near a checkpoint manned by soldiers next to the entrance of the Halane base, which hosts both UN and AU personnel and is close to the airport.

"The first bomb-laden car exploded at a checkpoint near Halane military base and shortly after a truck blew up next to heavily-guarded Peace Hotel," Jama said, adding two people have been confirmed dead.

Located near the Halane base, Peace Hotel is frequented by diplomats and government officials. Heads of state and government from the East African bloc IGAD held a day-long meeting at the hotel in 2016.

AMISOM spokesman Joe Kibet told Xinhua that a suicide car bomb was detonated at the checkpoint, while AU troops later destroyed another approaching explosive-laden car some 200 meters from the base.

"There were no AMISOM casualties but civilian casualties must have been registered," Kibet said.

Eyewitnesses said at least four people were killed in the two blasts.

Local resident Nasteho Ibrahim, who lives near the scene of the explosions, told Xinhua the blasts were huge.

"The blasts were very heavy and we could feel the impact from our houses shaking," said Ibrahim.

The Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the explosions. The group has carried out frequent attacks in Somalia in its decade-long fight against the government.(PNA/Xinhua)

Car bombing kills 14 in eastern Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed and 35 others wounded on Monday in a car bomb explosion at a Shiite neighborhood in eastern Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

The attack took place before noon when a booby trapped car detonated at the crowded 55 intersection in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in eastern part of the Iraqi capital, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The massive blast destroyed several shops nearby and many stalls at an outdoor market, setting fire to several vehicles, the source said.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is responsible for bombings targeting Iraqi security forces as well as crowded areas, including markets, cafes and mosques across the country.

The attack came amid a major offensive by Iraqi security forces, backed by an international coalition, to drive out IS militants from its last major stronghold in and around Mosul.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the US, which invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003. (PNA/Xinhua)

13 people missing after helicopter crashes in Venezuela

CARACAS, Jan. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- A Venezuelan military helicopter crashed on Dec. 30 as it was flying between Puerto Ayacucho and La Esmeralda in the state of Amazonas, the local governor confirmed Monday.

In a telephone interview with Union Radio, Liborio Guarulla said "the helicopter is in La Esmeralda and it is presumed it could have crashed along the way."

Guarulla said 13 passengers were on board, including eight soldiers and five civilians, and that a search had begun "involving the communities of the area."

"We have no real information about what may have happened, but we assume it is located along its flight path," he added.

Finally, he said that "official information was being awaited and that all the crew members of this airforce helicopter can be found." (PNA/Xinhua)

Twin blasts near AU base, airport in Somali capital

MOGADISHU, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Two powerful blasts went off near the airport and the base of Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in the Somali capital Mogadishu, followed by heavy gunfire on Monday, an official and witnesses said.

AMISOM spokesman Joe Kibet confirmed the incidents but did not give the number of casualties.

Witnesses said the initial blast targeted the Halane military base manned by AU forces while the second went off outside a hotel next to Aden Adde International Airport.

Sporadic gunfire could still be heard from the two locations.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Somalia-based extremist group Al-Shabaab has carried out frequent assaults in the country, including many in Mogadishu.(PNA/Xinhua)

Uganda's top university reopens after protest, strike

KAMPALA, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Uganda's oldest and top university Makerere University on Monday opened for classes after a two-month shutdown over a lecturers' strike.

John Ddumba-Ssentamu, vice chancellor of the university, said in a letter to staff and students that work and lectures should resume immediately.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni closed the university on November 1 following a demonstration by the students over a resolution by lecturers to continue their sit-down strike.

Police and students were involved in running battles as the students demanded that the lectures resume.

The university has had a spate of student demonstrations sparked by lecturers not turning up in class as a result of failure by the university administration to pay their arrears.

After the November closure, Museveni set up a committee to investigate and find solutions to the rampant student and lecturer strikes at the university.(PNA/Xinhua)

2nd LD: Death toll rises to 35 in car bomb explosion in eastern Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Up to 35 people were killed and 61 others were wounded on Monday in a car bomb explosion at a Shiite neighborhood in eastern Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

"The latest report said that 35 people were killed and 61 wounded in the car bomb explosion in Sadr City neighborhood," the source said on condition of anonymity.

The attack took place before noon when a booby trapped car detonated at the crowded 55 intersection in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in the eastern part of the Iraqi capital, the source said.

The massive blast destroyed several shops nearby and many stalls at an outdoor market, and set fire to several vehicles, the source said.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is believed responsible for bombings targeting Iraqi security forces as well as crowded areas, including markets, cafes and mosques across the country.

The attack came amid a major offensive by Iraqi security forces, backed by an international coalition, to drive out IS militants from its last major stronghold in and around Mosul.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the US, which invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003. (PNA/Xinhua)

Explosion rocks Myanmar's western state

YANGON, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- An explosion rocked the Yangon-Sittway highway in Myanmar's Rakhine state on Monday but left no casualty, the State Counselor Office's Information Committee said in a statement.

According to examination of the scene by local securities, the explosion was caused by a plastic bag packed with mines connected with batteries and wires in Ponenakyun town.

Hand grenades were also discovered at the scene, the statement said.

An investigation into the blast was underway. (PNA/Xinhua)

Somalia's rival states sign ceasefire deal

MOGADISHU, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Somalia's rival states of Puntland and Galmudug have renewed their commitment to peace by signing a ceasefire deal on Monday aimed at ending protracted clashes in the central town of Galkayo.

The deal was signed in the Somali capital Mogadishu between President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali of Puntland and President Abdikarim Hussein Guled of Galmudug.

Clashes between forces of the rival states, which first broke out in October, has killed more than 45 people including civilians and displaced over 90,000.

By signing the deal, the state presidents agreed to cease hostilities by withdrawing forces from the disputed town and to build confidence between the two state administrations.

They also agreed on the removal of all roadblocks installed by both states and the opening of roads to allow free movement of people and goods.

Galkayo is currently divided into two districts, with Galmudug governing the south and Puntland the north.

The regional leaders agreed in the deal to implement joint training of police from both north and south Galkayo to strengthen security.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appealed to both leaders to immediately implement the agreement with full commitment to ending violence in Galkayo.

The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia has welcomed the move.

"This renewed commitment to peace and confidence building in Galkayo is a critical step to allow a process to resolve underlying issues that are causing the conflict and to build lasting peace," said Michael Keating, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Somalia.

The regional leaders also agreed to meet in Galkayo later this month to support the implementation of these commitments.

Galkayo has been plagued by recurrent clashes between the neighboring federal states over its control.

Clashes have continued in the past months despite a November 1 ceasefire agreement signed by the regional leaders.(PNA/Xinhua)

At least 25 dead in road accident in eastern Thailand

BANGKOK, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- At least 25 people died after a van collided with a pickup truck and caught fire in Thailand's eastern Chonburi province on Monday.

Rescuers extinguished the flame and found 14 people dead from the van and 11 people dead from the pickup truck.

Only two passengers survived the accident, according to the local media.

The collision happened at about 2 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Road 344 in Ban Bung district of Chonburi.

Officials believe that the driver of the van fell asleep while driving and thus caused the tragedy. (PNA/Xinhua)

Civilian killed, 3 others injured in clash in northern Afghanistan

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- At least one civilian has been killed and three others injured as clash flared up between security forces and Taliban militants in northern Afghanistan on Monday, according to a local security source.

The clash erupted on a road linking the northern Kunduz province to neighboring Takhar province during which the driver of a civilian car lost his life and three female travelers sustained injuries, said the source.

Taliban has also suffered casualties during the crossfire which lasted for a couple of hours, he said.

However, Taliban militants, who often block the road in Khan Abad district which links Kunduz to Takhar, have yet to comment. (PNA/Xinhua)
CVL/NOD

Lebanon receives bodies of Istanbul nightclub attack victims

BEIRUT, Jan. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- A Middle East Airlines plane carrying the bodies of three Lebanese killed in Istanbul's nightclub massacre and five of the wounded arrived on Monday evening at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri, representing President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri, offered condolences to the families of the victims at the airport.

"Terrorism has no religion. It targets us all. It targets the good people who love life and who want to live. This is why we will fight it with our strongest asset, which is our national unity," the prime minister said.

At least 39 people, the majority of them foreigners, were killed and around 70 others were wounded when a gunman went on a rampage at Istanbul's luxurious Reina nightclub where revelers were celebrating New Year's Eve. (PNA/Xinhua)

Somalia needs USD864-M for urgent aid: UN agency

MOGADISHU, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Humanitarian partners working in Somalia are seeking USD864 million to reach 3.9 million people with urgent life-saving assistance by the end of 2017.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that on Monday through a newly developed Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia for 2017.

"The plan has been developed in consideration of and in complementarity with ongoing and planned development programming," the OCHA said in its latest report.

Developed within the framework of a three-year humanitarian strategy for Somalia for 2016-2018, the response plan for 2017 aims to save lives, ensure the protection of the most vulnerable, strengthen resilience, support the provision of basic services and enable durable solutions, according to the OCHA.

Five million Somalis, or more than 40 percent of the country's population, do not have sufficient food, according to a UN-backed assessment report issued earlier this year.

The report reveals the number includes more than 300,000 children under five who are acutely malnourished, among them more than 50,000 children who are severely malnourished. (PNA/Xinhua)

UN chief appeals for peace on New Year's Day

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called on the international community to strive for peace in 2017.

On New Year's Day and also his first day as UN chief, Guterres said "peace must be our goal and our guide."

He noted that millions of people caught up in conflict, suffering massively in wars with no end in sight.

"Trillions of dollars are spent destroying societies and economies, fueling cycles of mistrust and fear that can last for generations," he said.

Therefore, Guterres called on citizens, governments and leaders to overcome differences and commit to peace.

"On this New Year's Day, I ask all of you to join me in making one shared New Year's resolution: let us resolve to put peace first," he added. (PNA/Xinhua)

UN condemns assassination of Burundian minister Emmanuel Niyonkuru

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday condemned the assassination of Emmanuel Niyonkuru, Burundian minister of water, environment, and planning, on January 1.

"We express our sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Niyonkuru, the government and people of Burundi," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing.

"This act serves as another sad reminder of the urgent need for the Burundian parties to come together in the larger interest of the people of Burundi in the search of a lasting political solution for the crisis in the country," he said.

To that end, the United Nations stands ready to continue working with partners in support of the Facilitation led by the East African Community, said Dujarric.(PNA/Xinhua)

Russian Navy open to have joint exercises with PHL counterparts

MANILA, Jan. 4 (PNA) -- The Russian Navy is more than willing to show and demonstrate the use of its various combat systems to its Filipino counterparts once an agreement is inked allowing the joint training of Philippine and Russian maritime forces.

This was disclosed by Russian Pacific Fleet flotilla deputy commander Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov when asked what benefits the Philippines can get training with them.

"Maybe in the future, we'll have exercises with your (and we'll teach you) maneuvering and use of combat systems," he added.

Also, when the proper time comes, Mikhailov said Russia, the Philippines, China and Malaysia can participate in one big naval exercise in the South China Sea.

He added that this is possible as all the above-mentioned countries are concerned with the safety and security of the region.

Mikhailov made this statement during the sidelights of Tuesday's official welcoming ceremonies for Udaloy-class destroyer/large anti-submarine ship, Admiral Tributs and the Boris Chilikin-class fleet oiler, Boris Butoma, which arrived Monday night at Pier 15, South Harbor, Manila.

The former is the head of the Russian naval delegation which is on a six-day goodwill visit to the country which will end on Saturday. (PNA)

Ombudsman secures conviction of 7 DPWH execs over PHP7.8-M vehicle repair scam

MANILA, Jan. 4 (PNA) -- The Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) has secured the conviction of seven officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including three private individuals, involved in the PHP7.8 million “ghost” repairs and purchases of spare parts for the DPWH’s service vehicles undertaken in 2001.

The Sandiganbayan found DPWH Director III Burt Favorito, Officer-in-Charge Assistant Director Florendo Arias, Chief Maximo Borje, Equipment Inspector Rolando Castillo and Chief Erdito Quarto guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two counts of estafa through falsification of public documents and two counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”.

Likewise, Officer-in-Charge Nelson Umali and Storekeeper Felipe San Jose were also convicted of one count each for estafa and graft.

Also convicted were representatives from the car repair shops Janette Bugayong of GK & J Auto Repairs, Augusto Capuz of BIZTRADE and Vicente Santos of VIC-SAN Motorworks.

The accused were sentenced to suffer six to 10 years of imprisonment for each count of graft and 10 to 20 years for each count of estafa.

They were ordered to indemnify the government with a total amount of PHP7,866,631 as civil liability.

The DPWH employees were also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of civil service eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

Ombudsman prosecutors proved during the trial that the accused connived with each other to facilitate and effect reimbursements amounting to PHP7,866,631 over “ghost” vehicle repairs and purchases of spare parts by committing fraudulent schemes such as: repetitive procurement of spare parts; splitting of job orders; excessive costs of repairs; and false claims of emergency repairs. Even a vehicle involved in an accident was falsely reported as repaired, and vehicles with rehabilitations allotments were subjected to emergency repairs -- all in violation of existing DPWH and Commission on Audit (COA) policies.

Prosecutors presented evidence to show that Favorito, et. al. fraudulently claimed that 192 vehicles were repaired with 1,052 disbursement vouchers issued from March to December 2001.

With several irregularities established by the prosecution and “considering that there were never any repairs done on the subject vehicle, the facts narrated by the accused are absolutely false,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“Since the only reason for the reimbursements made was to steal money from government coffers, and not to allocate them for the repair of the vehicle in question, it is clear that the intention of the accused was to injure the government,” the Sandiganbayan ruling said. (PNA)
FPV/PTR/SSC

PHL gov't all-set for hosting of Miss U pageant -- DOT
By Azer N. Parrocha

MANILA, Jan. 4 (PNA) -- With Miss Universe hopefuls expected to arrive in the Philippines starting this week, the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday said preparations are all set for the pageant's ancillary events leading up to the anticipated coronation night on Jan 30, 2017.

"Everything is in place," DOT Secretary Wanda Teo said in a press conference after holding an inter-agency meeting with concerned agencies particularly the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Teo said that Miss Universe bets will start arriving between January 7 to 13 since the first ancillary event will be held in Boracay on January 14.

The candidates will also be in Vigan on January 15 for a fashion show, in Manila on January 16 to attend a Governor’s Ball, in Cebu on January 17, in Baguio in January 18 and in Davao and Batangas on January 19 for other pre-coronation segments.

They will return to Manila on January 20 to attend a lunch hosted by one of the pageant's main partners, Solar Entertainment Corp., and participate in the Grand Fashion Show and a Food Festival on January 21 and 22, respectively.

On January 23, the candidates will be in Malacanang for a courtesy call with President Rodrigo Duterte.

A number of events particularly in Albay and Iloilo have been cancelled due to the tight schedule.

Reigning Miss Universe-Philippines Pia Wurtzbach will be joining the contestants in some ancillary events.

DOTr spokesperson, for her part, reassured that the hosting of the pageant in Metro Manila and in provinces will not add to traffic.

"There won’t be any disturbance in the daily lives of Filipino commuters whether in Metro Manila or other provinces where they will hold other events," Mercado said.

"Sec. Wanda and the President have been very clear that they won’t the event o be causing discomfort to riding public, commuters, so we will do proper coordination and make it as smooth as possible for contestants and commuters today until the last contestant leaves country," she added.

DOT Undersecretary for Media Affairs Kat De Castro said that the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) will also begin site inspection in participating provinces beginning January 5.

De Castro said that the MUO has yet to announce if American host Steve Harvey and backstage host Ashley Graham will be joined by a Filipino co-host or which international acts will be performing during the coronation night.

She, however, said that a number of local artists such as The Voice Philippines coaches Bamboo, Sarah Geronimo, and Lea Salonga will be performing in ancillary events. Also considered are singers Jed Madela, and Martin Nievera.

"We will definitely announce it within the next few days," De Castro said.

DOT previously said that production costs for the prestigious pageant will be completely shouldered by the private sector estimated at USD 11 to 15 million.

Official host of the prestigious pageant will be the DOT and group of former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Chavit Singson, LCS Holdings, while its partners include Okada Manila, Solar Entertainment Inc. and SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc.

The Philippines has already hosted the Miss Universe twice, in 1974 and 1994. (PNA)
JMC/ANP

Marcelino, Yan file omnibus motion seeking reversal of Manila court ruling on drug raps against them

MANILA, Jan. 4 (PNA) -- Marine officer Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino and his co-accused Chinese national Yan Yi Shou alias Randy filed a omnibus motion before a Manila court seeking to reverse its resolution denying their motion to dismiss the case and to defer issuance of arrest warrants against them in connection to the drug case filed by the Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) last September in a PHP380 million drug bust in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

In a 31-page omnibus motion filed through the Public Attorney's Office, Marcelino and Yan asked Manila RTC Branch 49 Judge Daniel Villanueva to reconsider his order last Dec. 22 issuing the warrants for their arrest saying that the court erred in ruling that they failed to give a good and credible account of their presence in the premises of the apartment in Sta.Cruz, Manila where they were arrested in an anti-drug operation in January last year by combined operatives of the PNP-AIDG and PDEA.

"The Honorable Court failed to consider that the presence of accused Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino was in fulfillment of his duty as a military intelligence officer. When Lt. Col. Marcelino went to the said area at the Celadon Residences, he was with Yan to verify a raw information that the said place was an abandoned shabu facility," said in motion.

It can be recalled that Marcelino and his Chinese pal were charged for violating Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in connection with their arrest and the recovery of PHP380 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” in an apartment in Sta. Cruz, Manila a year ago.

Marcelino also disagreed with part of the order of the court wherein it described him as a “a self-appointed anti-drug crusader with self-enabled authority to enter alleged suspected drug den, laboratory or premises even for alleged verification purposes” adding that he was not only acting as an intelligence officer of PDEA at that time because he is also a military intelligence officer and a part of the on-going anti-illegal drug effort undertaken by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

He also told the court that before proceeding to the area, he even coordinated with PDEA Director Randy Pedroso and asked if there were similar operations in the area to prevent possible rumble in the gathering of information that may compromise the operation.

The motion said Pedroso was already informed that Marcelino was then conducting an operation in that area against those involved in the illegal drugs trade based on the information provided by Yan.

Marcelino argued he deemed it necessary not to share the said information provided by Yan since it it is premature for him to share the said information to any other government law enforcement agency at that time and he decided to verify it.

“Having done many covert intelligence operations in the past, Lt. Col. Marcelino thought it best to verify the information given by Randy,” he said in his plea.

He earlier submitted a certification from the Philippine Army Intelligence Group showing that he is sharing information on the alleged involvement of Army personnel in the illegal drugs trade from September to December last year.

Marcelino also said that the Manila court’s ruling using the “strong evidence” ruling against Yan in the March 27, 2016 resolution issued by Judge Lyn Ebora-Cacha, Presiding Judge of the Quezon city regional trial court branch 82 holds no water in the present case.

“In the proceedings before this Honorable Court, what is being determined is the existence of probable cause that would merit the issuance of warrant of arrest against the herein accused while in the proceedings before the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 82, what was passed upon was whether the evidence of guilt of accused Lt. Col. Marcelino was strong based on the evidence presented during the summary hearing on the petition for bail,” it said adding that even the Quezon city court found the evidence and the testimonies of witnesses against him insufficient to further detain him.

Further, Marcelino explained that there is no prima facie evidence of the existence of conspiracy between him and Yan and that evidence showed they are not in effective control or possession of whatever contraband allegedly found inside the place where they were arrested.

He also cited the statements of the buildings’ security guards showing that the PNP-AIDG and PDEA operatives arrived two minutes after he and Yan arrived at Unit 15 of the Celadon Residences and not he added several hours as claimed by the arresting officers.Marcelino also said that based on the ruling of the Quezon city RTC, he was found on the ground floor and there was no illegal drugs confiscated in his possession or in his immediate vicinity and that there was no showing that he had any knowledge or control of the illegal drugs found in the property subject of the search warrant.

Apart from lifting of the arrest warrant, Marcelino also reiterated his plea for dismissal of the charges for lack of probable cause.

Marcelino on Tuesday surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) while Yan surrendered Tuesday night to the NBI Special Task Force headed by Head Agent Moises Tamayo.

Also on Tuesday, the DOJ panel of prosecutors asked the Manila RTC to issue a hold departure order against Marcelino and Yan to make sure they would not be able to leave the country while standing trial for the drug case.

The two men were nabbed by anti-narcotics operatives last Jan. 21, 2016 in an abandoned shabu laboratory at the Celadon Residences in Sta. Cruz, Manila where authorities seized 76,697.7 grams of shabu worth over PHP380 million. (PNA)
BNB/CLTC

AFP formally seeks custody of beleaguered Marine officer Marcelino

MANILA, Jan. 4 (PNA) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday formally filed a motion seeking the custody of Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, the Marine officer earlier implicated in a Php380 million drug-bust in Sta. Cruz, Manila last year.

Marcelino earlier surrendered to the Office of the Provost Marshal of the AFP Tuesday noon.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said Marcelino's motion for commitment order and interim prayer for custody was filed by his counsel which was provided by the Judge Advocate General Office (JAGO) for that particular purpose only.

"Through counsel coming from the Judge Advocate General Office for a temporary and special appearance in his behalf filed yesterday (Tuesday) such motion through registered mail in order to beat the time of 5 p.m. As you know he only voluntarily surrendered around 12 noon. But this morning (Wednesday), the counsel personally proceeded to the court to submit a hard copy of said motion and indicated to the court such intention of the AFP," he noted.

The court being referred to is the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 49 which earlier issued the arrest warrant against Marcelino and Chinese co-accused Yan Yi Shou last Dec. 22 after turning down their motion to dismiss the drug charges against them.

The two men were nabbed by anti-narcotics operatives last Jan. 21, 2016 in an abandoned shabu laboratory at the Celadon Residences in Sta. Cruz, Manila where authorities seized 76,697.7 grams of shabu worth over Php380 million.

Grounds for the AFP petition are as follows:

*First is the fact that he is an active member of the AFP, a militiary officer and subject to military law;

*Second is the fact that he has been, meaning Col. Marcelino, has been instrumental to the arrest prosecution and incarceration of several high profile personalities involved in illegal drug trade, organized syndicates at that, and these people who he helped incarcerated might be the same people whom he will be joining in case he will be imprisoned together with other high-profile criminals behind bars, so that will, they will pose danger to the life of Col. Marcelino;

*And the third is the fact that the AFP being a professional organization give a very high regard and respect to the majesty of the law and the courts, and is willing to abide by whatever decision will be rendered by the court on this particular motion and that if there is indeed pursuant to affidavit of undertaking, if there's a need for the court or for Col. Marcelino to appear before the courts the AFP will make sure that he will be there to, or will be present before the courts.

"For the information of everybody, Col. Marcelino is not considered a flight risk so apart from being a member of the AFP, he can be well taken cared of and hold under the custody of AFP and his arrest, as a matter of fact arrests and confinements are just meant to ensure that a person accused before violation of the law will be available when the court needs him for hearing and that is exactly what the AFP is assuring the court that if the court will so direct Col. Marcelino to be present he will be there, will be brought to the court as so demanded," Arevalo stressed. (PNA)