Ajinomoto’s zero-calorie sweetener, advantame, has been approved in Canada.  Due to its clean, sugar-like taste, functionality and cost effectiveness, advantame can be used to replace caloric sweeteners and other high-potency sweeteners in foods and beverages while maintaining or enhancing the flavor profile.

In addition to a booth on the expo floor, Elizabeth Morrow, Ph.D., principal food scientist for AHN, is presenting “Kokumi’s Untapped Potential: The Flavor Builder You Didn’t Know You Needed” on July 16 at noon in McCormick Place room S401bc.  

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc., announced the opening of its new North American corporate headquarters at 250 East Devon Avenue in Itasca, Ill. The new space is designed to accelerate Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition's commitment to delivering high-quality ingredient solutions that drive value for customers.

This initiative utilizes Ajinomoto Co.'s AjiPro-L, a lysine formulation which, in addition to aiding in the absorption of the amino acid, is cost-effective and a GHG reduction method in the market.

Designed by UO for the Nakajimaya Grand Hotel, Nakajimaya Crossing is an installation that blends traditional crafts in innovative ways.

Ilgar Hajiyev, a developer of Accord Smart residential complex, accused of numerous crimes, including real estate scam, is facing another criminal case in Russia. Defrauded homebuyers are collecting signatures for a petition in their defense. These people, who paid their money for apartments in the Moscow region, Odintsovo сity district, but never received keys to their new homes, demand Hajiyev should be delivered to Russia to stand trial for fraud. Only 4 apartment buildings out of 12 that should have been commissioned in 2020 are built - with many violations. "Numerous violations were committed during the construction: façades are falling off, walls and decoration of public areas are crumbling, cardboard doors are already broken," the petition reads. The billion worth scam Hajiyev fled overseas with investors' money in January 2019. It was not only clients, but also business partners, whom Hajiyev scammed, including creditors of SDI Group. Apart from Accord Smart housing complex, subsidiaries of SDI Group were also developers of the Pirogovskaya Riviera residential complex in Mytishchi, the Moscow Region. The complex is being finished by another developer. Hajiyev started building the Pirogovskaya Riviera complex together with businessman Isai Zakharyaev, who later left the project, but never received money for his share. The head of SDI Group owes more than one billion rubles to the former partner. Another one billion Hajiyev siphoned off from the project developer Comfort Invest.

A scientist from the food solutions firm discusses how the concept can be put to to use.

The snack featuring the Mexican seasoning now comes in bolder packaging and a new size.

Sarbajit Mukherjee, MD, MS is lauded for expertise in gastrointestinal research and education

Lami Ajibesin, MBA, CPA, honored for over 20 years of success in her field

The award will allow the evaluation of a prototype smart patch in an exploratory clinical study of 50 healthy volunteers

"Humanity pushes back! The Survey Corps develops a risky gambit— have Eren in Titan form attempt to repair Wall Rose, reclaiming human territory from the monsters for the first time in a century. But Titan-Eren's self-control is far from perfect, and when he goes on a rampage, not even Armin can stop him! With the survival of humanity on his massive shoulders, will Eren be able to return to his senses, or will he lose himself forever?"-- Page [4] of cover.

WARSAW, 6 August 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today criticized the call by the Prosecutor General of Tajikistan for the reintroduction of the death penalty, and expressed concern over recent discussions related to removing the bans on capital punishment in some other OSCE participating States.

“Countries in the OSCE have committed themselves to consider the complete abolition of capital punishment, not to reconsider that abolition,” the ODIHR Director said. “Yesterday’s call by the Prosecutor General in Tajikistan for the reintroduction of capital punishment in that country is completely out of place in a region where most of the countries recognize the inherently cruel, inhuman and degrading nature of a punishment that fails to act as a deterrent and makes any miscarriage of justice irreversible.”

Tajikistan’s Prosecutor-General, Yusuf Rahmon, told a press conference yesterday that perpetrators of premeditated murder, terrorists and traitors must be punished by death. His words followed similar statements by other leaders, among them President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Viktor Orban of Hungary, suggesting that the reinstitution of the death penalty should be opened for discussion.

Tajikistan suspended the application of the death penalty in 2004, while Turkey and Hungary completely abolished capital punishment, in 2004 and 1990, respectively.

“Rather than reversing its course, it is my hope that Tajikistan will take further steps toward the complete abolition of the death penalty,” he said. “It is also my hope that Turkey, remains with the vast majority of the OSCE participating States and will continue to  act as a strong advocate for the global abolition, as it has in recent years.”

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The need for a risk management system for Tajikistan’s Customs Service and simpler procedures for transparency and accountability are key recommendations of an integrity assessment of the Customs Code, presented to international donors, private and international companies and NGOs by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan on 18 July 2016.

The assessment, which was commissioned by the OSCE Office in consultation with government representatives and international development partners, is the third in a series of assessments to examine the administrative codes and legal acts relevant for international business and cross-border trade in Tajikistan. Previous assessments focused on the Tax Code and different administrative legal acts.

Ambassador Markus Müller, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan welcomed the positive reception of the current anti-corruption assessment not only by international organizations but also within government circles and confirmed the Office’s readiness to work with all the relevant stakeholders involved.

The presentation of the Customs Code assessment followed a series of practical workshops on anti-corruption assessments for experts from the government and NGOs. During these workshops, participants learned how to identify in legislation provisions that might lead to corruption and draft recommendations to eliminate potentially corruptive provisions in law.

The Customs Code assessment is part of a multi-year initiative by the OSCE Office with the objective of designing a training module on anti-corruption assessment to be included in the mandatory training curricula for civil servants. 

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More than 40 specialists from Afghanistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan completed a training seminar on advanced explosive ordnance disposal on April 20, 2016 in Dushanbe, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan as a part of a multi-year project.

The course, which covered levels one and two of the explosive ordnance disposal curriculum outlined in International Mine Action Standards, was held at the Lyaur Field Training Centre of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defence. The participants came from national armed forces, national mine action co-ordination authorities and civilian agencies which are directly engaged in addressing explosive hazards threats.

“The second explosive ordnance disposal training cycle is particularly significant as it introduces the mentorship approach to training whereby junior instructors – graduates of the first training cycle implemented in years 2014 and 2015 - are providing training shoulder-to-shoulder with their United States Army Central colleagues to the students from Central Asian and Afghanistan,” said Scott Kearin, Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Elisabeth Millard highlighted the leadership that the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan has shown in hosting this series of training events. She said: “The need for competent explosive ordnance disposal specialists and trainers is critical for removing landmines and explosive remnants of war that threaten safety and stability in Tajikistan and surrounding countries.” She praised the Tajik Ministry of Defence for hosting a train-the-trainer program that allows them to lead humanitarian mine action programmes in the wider region.

Muhabbat Ibrohimzoda, Director of the Tajikistan National Mine Action Centre, said: “Tajikistan recognizes the present-day threats of explosive hazards and the need to address these challenges throughout the region and on a global level.”

Two separate courses – for Russian speaking and Tajik-Dari speaking groups of students - were facilitated by the OSCE Office in partnership with the United States Army Central and supported by the U.S. Embassy’s Office for Military Co-operation in Dushanbe. They were financed by the U.S. State Department’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.

Since 2009, the OSCE has been supporting the development of co-operative mechanisms on a technical level among states in Central Asia and Afghanistan to address concerns and challenges stemming from explosive hazards.

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Tajikistan’s National Action Plan on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540, which was supported by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan as a way of enhancing the country’s chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear security, was presented to representatives of the international community in Dushanbe on 28 April 2016.

As well as bringing together representatives of international organizations dealing with non-proliferation issues, and embassies and diplomatic missions of the OSCE participating States and the UN members in Tajikistan, some 30 professionals in the area of chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear security in Tajikistan also attended the meeting. The discussion was held to mark the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on 28 April 2004.

“As we have now already moved to the implementation phase of the Plan, I have no doubt that we all understand the importance of the need to provide resources that are indispensable for strengthening co-operation and collaboration in implementing the approved 1540 measures,” said Fabio Piana, Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. “Diplomatic missions of the OSCE participating States or UN Member States in Tajikistan are encouraged to take part in implementing Tajikistan’s National Action Plan, with the aim of ensuring the overall sustainability of our joint efforts.”

Ilkhom Mirsaidov, National co-ordinator on implementing the National Action Plan, thanked the OSCE for the assistance provided in developing the Plan – a process that took two years to accomplish. He also stressed the importance of multilateral co-operation and co-ordination of efforts during its implementation.

The National Action Plan, encompassing various implementation measures on nuclear, chemical, and biological security for 2016-2021, was adopted by Tajikistan’s Government on 9 February 2016.

The Office, in close co-operation with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, and the 1540 Committee Group of Experts, will continue to assist the Government in the Plan’s practical implementation.

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DUSHANBE, 29 July 2016 – The OSCE Office in Tajikistan today donated audio-visual equipment to the Police Academy of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs with the aim of supporting the Academy’s lecturers to use interactive teaching techniques on the investigation of crimes related to the trafficking of human beings.

The equipment includes a computer, a projector, a screen, speakers, a printer, and an Uninterruptible Power Supply device (UPS). An external hard disk drive was also donated to allow for the storing of an electronic library of thematic video films and other informational resources in this field.

“This equipment will improve the teaching of the Course on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, and will therefore enable the police to more effectively address this serious social problem,” said Fabio Piana, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

Karim Soliev, the first Deputy Director of the Police Academy, thanked the OSCE for its continued support in building the capacity of future law enforcement staff and Police Academy cadets in combating human trafficking and domestic violence in Tajikistan. “This equipment is of great help to lecturers who will now be able to apply more interactive teaching techniques,” he said.

In previous years, the OSCE has provided expert support to the Police Academy, including the development of the Lecturer’s Guidelines on teaching this specialized and compulsory 20-hour course. The OSCE has also trained the team of lecturers on modern interactive teaching techniques and has recently updated the Course on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings with regard to new legislation in this field.

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The need for a risk management system for Tajikistan’s Customs Service and simpler procedures for transparency and accountability are key recommendations of an integrity assessment of the Customs Code, presented to international donors, private and international companies and NGOs by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan on 18 July 2016.

The assessment, which was commissioned by the OSCE Office in consultation with government representatives and international development partners, is the third in a series of assessments to examine the administrative codes and legal acts relevant for international business and cross-border trade in Tajikistan. Previous assessments focused on the Tax Code and different administrative legal acts.

Ambassador Markus Müller, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan welcomed the positive reception of the current anti-corruption assessment not only by international organizations but also within government circles and confirmed the Office’s readiness to work with all the relevant stakeholders involved.

The presentation of the Customs Code assessment followed a series of practical workshops on anti-corruption assessments for experts from the government and NGOs. During these workshops, participants learned how to identify in legislation provisions that might lead to corruption and draft recommendations to eliminate potentially corruptive provisions in law.

The Customs Code assessment is part of a multi-year initiative by the OSCE Office with the objective of designing a training module on anti-corruption assessment to be included in the mandatory training curricula for civil servants. 

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• OSCE Office in Tajikistan organizes first regional forum for promoting women’s political participation in Khujand
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WARSAW, 3 June 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed concern today over yesterday’s sentencing by a court in Dushanbe of two leaders of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT) to life imprisonment, and 11 other high-ranking party officials to jail terms ranging from two to 28 years.

“The harsh sentences handed down yesterday, following the earlier ban of the IRPT and the arrest and harassment of its members and their families and lawyers, raise concerns in relation to the commitments Tajikistan has made as an OSCE participating State to uphold key values of democracy, including political pluralism and political participation,” the ODIHR Director said. “ODIHR has raised this issue with the authorities in the past, and asked for more information on the rationale behind these actions.”

The IRPT party officials were convicted and sentenced by the court on charges that they had conspired in and taken part in the organization of an army coup in the country in September 2015. At that time, the Supreme Court banned the party as an “extremist and terrorist organization”.

The trials leading up to yesterday’s sentences were held behind closed doors, with the proceedings off-limits to the media as well.

“Fair-trial rights are a central element of the rule of law, and measures limiting public scrutiny of and access to criminal proceedings can only undermine confidence that these rights are being upheld,” Director Link said. “ODIHR continues to stand ready to support the Tajik authorities in fulfilling the country’s OSCE commitments in the areas of political pluralism and the rule of law.”

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DUSHANBE, 26 July 2016 – The Parents Against Terrorism training series, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, started yesterday in Kulyab in the country’s Khatlon region with the aim of enhancing the knowledge and understanding of the local population about Violent Extremism and Radicalization that lead to Terrorism (VERLT) in order to build the community’s resilience to this phenomenon.

The trainees came from different layers of society, representing local government bodies, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, as well as the local population. The course was led by local trainers from civil society, the Ministry of Labour, Migration, and Employment, and the Committee on Religious Affairs.

“The government of Tajikistan is seriously concerned about the growing threat of global terrorism and violent extremism,” said Khurshed Kenjaev, a representative of the Security Council under the President, in his opening remarks. “It is taking solid preventative measures to tackle this phenomenon, since it cannot be the sole responsibility of law enforcement agencies to deal with the threat.” 

Ivan Ene, OSCE Field Officer in Kurgan Tyube, said: “Countering violent extremism and radicalization that may lead to terrorism requires a holistic approach. The intervention of law enforcement agencies to dissolute the problem of violent extremism and terrorism is effective to only a certain extent, therefore, if we want to apply more effective measures to fight this phenomenon, we need to engage and use the capacity of local communities and parents.”

The course focuses on the role of mothers as “positive agents of change” within Tajik culture. They are informed about the early signs of violent extremism and radicalization that may lead to terrorism. The training participants were also briefed on the violent extremist groups that are believed to be active in Tajikistan.

In the coming days, similar training sessions will be held in Kurgan-Tyube and Shaartuz. A similar activity was organized across Tajikistan in 2015 and recently held in Sughd region. 

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He further claimed that the product is launched at a 15 per cent lower price compared to the existing products in the market. “We are retaining lower margins than other brands and it works for us, as we spend much less in marketing,” commented Shreyans Jain, co-founder, Nutrabay.

Panelistas consideran que es una oportunidad para que se dé un nuevo modelo de relacionamiento con el poder nacional; señalan que la clave es cómo operativizar el cambio.

Tres de los cuatro candidatos debatieron sobre temas como superación de la pobreza, desarrollo económico, educación, salud y transición energética.

Panelistas consideran que la decisión se esperaba, que la Corte es salomónica y que será difícil que el gobierno saque adelante los proyectos en el Congreso.

El Gobernador de La Guajira dio detalles de las obras que son parte de la red de vías que busca completar 500 kilómetros para todo el departamento.

El gobernador, la gerente de aguas, un senador y un empresario del sector turismo analizaron los retos y oportunidades que tiene el departamento.

La Luciérnaga se enciende para analizar la nueva polémica que surgió alrededor de los audios recientemente conocidos por el tema de Odebrecht en el país. Al parecer, esto sigue generando controversia en ciertos personajes con los que aún se relacionan el ingreso de dineros por parte de esta empresa. Además, por medio de un comunicado, el Ministerio de Defensa informó que el pago de la mesada adicional de mitad de año o también denominada mesada 14, a favor de los miembros de la fuerza pública, se encuentra suspendido. También, el presidente Gustavo Petro y su gabinete de ministros firmó el decreto de Estado de Emergencia Económica, Social y Ecológica para el departamento de La Guajira, tal cual cómo lo había anunciado el pasado día sábado. 
La Luciérnaga, un espacio de humor y opinión de Caracol Radio que acompaña desde hace más de 30 años a sus oyentes en el regreso a casa.

Escuche el programa de este jueves 14 de diciembre. La Luciérnaga, un espacio de humor y opinión de Caracol Radio que acompaña por más de 30 años a sus oyentes en el regreso a casa. 

En 6AM Hoy Hoy revelamos nuevos detalles de los 40 carrotanques de La Guajira que no habían entregado ni una gota, pero sí tenían marcas de agua con la cara del presidente Gustavo Petro.

La empresa Impoamericana Rogers SAS, la que le vendió los carrotanques a la UNGR por $46 mil millones, registró como domicilio comercial una dirección en Cúcuta en la que no existe ninguna empresa.

Según el órgano de control, no hubo un proceso de selección idóneo y todo estuvo arreglado para que el contrato se le entregara a la empresa Impoamericana Roger SAS. Se dectetaron sobrecostos por $ 7.760 millones.

En Caracol Radio estuvo Armando Gutiérrez, director ejecutivo de la Asociación Nacional de Ciudades Inteligentes e Iluminación, explicando las preocupaciones del gremio

6AM Hoy por Hoy y Diana Calderón, directora de Hora 20, revelaron un posible entramado de corrupción ligado a la UNGRD.

Lo que se sabe hasta el momento es solo la punta de iceberg de un caso de corrupción que tiene por escenario la Guajira. En medio de esto, se habría robado no solo los carrotanques, sino también las ollas comunitarias, incumplieron con las soluciones para llevar el agua y arreglar las plantas potabilizadoras, pagaron coimas y premiaron a congresistas con cargos en el ICBF y Prosperidad Social.

20.400 millones de pesos es la cifra clave a tener en cuenta. Ese es el valor de un contrato para ollas comunitarias en el municipio de Albania, uno de los municipios más pequeños de la Guajira. Se trata de un dinero que habría sido desviado para asuntos electorales para las campañas, entre otros, de la alcaldesa Nera Robles, avalada por el partido Maís, especialmente por la congresista del Pacto Histórico, Martha Peralta y el representante conservador, Juan Loreto Gómez.

Las alarmas alrededor de este caso empezaron a prenderse desde septiembre cuando ni las manipuladoras, ni los proveedores, recibieron sus pagos.

El contratista de este proyecto se llama Jorge Martelo, expresentante a la Cámara, empresario y ganadero cercano al grupo de Albania, de Nera Robles. Según López, los contratistas de las ollas fueron seleccionadas por Luis Gómez, el gerente del proyecto de las ollas, nombrado por el gobierno de Gustavo Petro, a quien como a Martha Peralta empezaron a sacar del círculo cercano a palacio este fin de semana.

Leonardo Donoso habló con 6AM, expuso las medidas que tomó el municipio frente a los bloqueos de los trasportadores.

Saray Robayo, representante, habló nsobre quién estaría detrás del cobro de impuestos al Banco de Alimentos de La Guajira 

A quality, box-checking soundtrack featuring some of the pair’s best work to date.

A plain and forgettable affair that falls short of expectations.

A crowd pleaser featuring the cream of the industry’s playback singers.

An audacious crowd pleaser full of masala hits.

What a force!

The original, hood 'Cookie' and 'Lucious!'

She stars in "I Can Do Bad All By Myself," Sat. at 8P/7C.

The actors star in TD Jakes's "Not Easily Broken."